President Luis Abinader responds to Venezuela’s diplomatic withdrawal

Santo Domingo.- On Monday, President Luis Abinader announced that the Dominican Republic respects the decision of the Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, to withdraw its diplomatic staff from the country. This move comes in response to the Dominican Republic’s statements regarding the results of Sunday’s elections in Venezuela.

“We respect that decision,” Abinader stated in response to journalists’ questions during the weekly press briefing at the National Palace. He noted that the Dominican Republic does not currently have an ambassador in Venezuela, so the action involves only the withdrawal of personnel.

Abinader highlighted that diplomatic relations with the South American nation have been “significantly” decreasing for several years.

When pressed further on the matter, Abinader clarified that the Dominican Republic’s position aims to ensure that Venezuela complies with calls for a vote recount in the presence of international observers to promote greater transparency.

“This is a fluid situation, and we will continue to monitor and determine our course of action,” he added. Abinader emphasized that the Dominican Republic will never abandon its principles, particularly its commitment to democracy. “I may leave the National Palace, but I will remain a guardian of democracy,” the Dominican president asserted.

Alongside other countries, the Dominican Republic has requested an urgent meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OEA) following the election results in Venezuela, which declared Nicolás Maduro the winner.

Expressing his concerns about the electoral process in Venezuela, Abinader underscored the importance of transparency in elections as the foundation of legitimacy. In a message on the social media platform “X,” he stressed, “Electoral rules cannot be applied at discretion.”