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Venezuela's incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, who is seeking re-election in today's presidential ballot, has responded to threats by U.S. officials that they will not recognize the results of the May 20 elections.
The U.S. declarations are "a demonstration of the desperation in the face of the demonstration of participation and development of elections in Venezuela," Maduro said on Sunday shortly before polls were due to close at 6 p.m. local time.
"The constant aggression of the Ku Klux Klan government of the United States against the people of Venezuela is discredited. It is rejected by the public conscience of the world, by the people of the world, and it is rejected by our people... They can't think that they are the rulers of the world."
On Sunday, while Venezuelans headed to the polls, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said the Trump administration would not recognize the election, and was considering oil sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the election a "sham."
Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) has opened the process to international observers, and the process is being fully audited at each stage. On Sunday, CNE President Tibisay Lucena said any complaints received during the process would be investigated and addressed.
"All candidates and their campaign chiefs have a direct line of communication with us. Any complaint should come to the CNE so it can be corrected," she said.
The president of the CNE also rejected domestic and foreign attempts to sabotage the country's electoral process, stating that all efforts have been made for them to be free and fair.
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