UK at UN presses Venezuela on 2024 election results
On 23 December 2025 in New York, the UK told the UN Security Council that Nicolás Maduro’s claim to power lacks legitimacy and that Venezuela’s electoral authority has still not published full results from the 28 July 2024 presidential election. The meeting formed part of the Council’s end‑year agenda on global security issues.
UK Deputy Ambassador Archie Young said independent reports flagged irregularities and a lack of transparency, that freedoms remain curtailed, and that failing services deepen hardship. He added that the UK will work with partners for a peaceful, negotiated transition and reiterated support for the UN Charter and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
If you’re new to the dispute, here’s the crux: Venezuela’s National Electoral Council announced results but has not released the full, polling‑station records needed for verification. The European Union says copies of tally sheets gathered by observers point to opposition candidate Edmundo González winning by a significant margin, which is why it will not recognise the authorities’ announcement as representative of the people’s will.
Independent observers underline the transparency gap. The Carter Center concluded the 2024 contest did not meet international standards and said the electoral authority’s failure to publish disaggregated, station‑level results prevents any credible verification of the outcome.
Human rights shape whether people can speak, organise and vote safely. Human Rights Watch has documented killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions after the 2024 vote, including against opposition figures, journalists and activists-concerns that mirror what UK officials have raised in UN forums this year.
How does the Security Council fit in? It is a 15‑member body that can adopt resolutions or issue statements. On non‑procedural matters, at least nine votes are needed and there must be no veto from any of the five permanent members-China, France, Russia, the UK and the United States. That requirement often makes agreement difficult when major powers differ.
On 23 December, Venezuela was on the Council’s schedule alongside other files. These briefings let members test claims, set out positions and, where possible, build support for next steps. Without consensus, outcomes tend to be political signals rather than binding measures.
Outside the Council, the UK and EU have used targeted measures. On 10 January 2025 the UK sanctioned 15 individuals linked to undermining democracy and human rights in Venezuela. On 15 December 2025 the EU renewed its restrictive measures for a year, citing the conduct and aftermath of the 28 July 2024 election.
Why this matters beyond politics: millions of Venezuelans have left or need protection. UNHCR and its regional partners report more than 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide as of May 2024, and estimate 8.4 million people from Venezuela were refugees, asylum‑seekers or otherwise in need of international protection by the end of 2024.
When diplomats refer to a ‘negotiated transition’, they mean steps such as freeing detainees, restoring political rights and setting clear conditions for credible elections with monitors. The EU urges a democratic transition with human rights guarantees and cooperation with UN mechanisms, while the UK says it will work with partners to achieve a peaceful, negotiated path.
Media literacy tip: track the timeline. The UK’s 23 December statement highlights that the electoral authority has ‘still’ not released full results ‘after 18 months’, a reference back to the 28 July 2024 vote. The emphasis is on the absence of verifiable, polling‑station data-central to public trust in any result.
What to watch next from your desk or classroom: whether Venezuela’s authorities publish station‑level tallies; whether rights monitors gain fuller access; and whether the Security Council moves beyond statements if tensions rise. The UN flagged briefings on Venezuela this week, so expect more official positions before year‑end.