Venezuelans approve a referendum to claim sovereignty over a swathe of neighboring Guyana

[Polybius]

Source: ABC News

CARACAS, Venezuela -- CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum called by the government of President Nicolás Maduro to claim sovereignty over an oil- and mineral-rich piece of neighboring Guyana, the country’s electoral authority announced.

Few voters could be seen at voting centers throughout the voting period, but the National Electoral Council claimed more than 10.5 million voters cast ballots.

Venezuela has long argued the territory was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago. But Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation, and the vote has its residents on edge.

Venezuelan voters were asked whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, known as Essequibo, granting citizenship to current and future area residents and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations’ top court in settling the disagreement between the South American countries.

“It has been a total success for our country, for our democracy,” Maduro told supporters gathered in Caracas, the capital, after results were announced before highlighting the “very important level of participation of the people” in the referendum.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/venezuelans-vote-referendum-large-swathe-territory-dispute-guyana-105336154

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Oh boy, this isn't good...

[dalton99a]

1. Too many people live in Venezuela - they need lebensraum

Hopefully they won't need to move to the U.S.

[Archae]

2. Maduro needs a distraction.

His country has gone to hell in a handbasket, due to Maduro's and his cronies corruption and stupidity.

So he needs a distraction, and a war would be just the ticket.

[pfitz59]

3. yeah, let's start a war!

great way to jump start an economy

[Polybius]

4. I wonder what the US will do if he does start a war

Or better yet, what should we do?

[EX500rider]

5. I don't see the US standing aside while Venz beats up their small neighbor & steals 2/3 of their country

[prodigitalson]

7. How do we stop them short of going to war with them? I think we have the sanctions squeezed to the max.

[EX500rider]

10. I believe a military threat would be the only way

[prodigitalson]

6. Shouldn't it be the Guyanans should doing the voting?

[onetexan]

16. It's basically a land grab

[prodigitalson]

8. "oil- and mineral-rich"

[LiberalFighter]

9. I propose that Venezuela be.... Whoops I don't think I can say that.

[Eugene]

11. Maduro vote to claim Guyana's territory backfires as Venezuelans stay home

Maduro vote to claim Guyana’s territory backfires as Venezuelans stay home (The Guardian)

Turnout was minimal in vote on referendum intended to rubber-stamp Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo region

The government of Guyana has breathed a sigh of relief after a referendum intended to rubber-stamp Venezuela’s claim to about two-thirds of the tiny South American country’s territory appeared to have backfired.

Nicolás Maduro had hoped to leverage his country’s century-long claim to the disputed Essequibo region to mobilise public support but voting stations across the country were largely quiet on Sunday as most voters shunned the issue.

The turnout appeared so underwhelming that the Venezuelan government has been widely accused by analysts of falsifying the results.

https://archive.is/TZxS5

Original Guardian link (registration required): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/04/maduro-venezuela-guyana-essequibo-referendum-vote-turnout

[Polybius]

12. Maduro doesn't care about election results

He's wasn't even recognized as President by the US at one point. He needs to go.

[Kennah]

13. Damned Hugo Chavez

[Polybius]

15. Yep

He's smiling from his grave.

[area51]

14. This should end well.

[Polybius]

17. Well that didn't take very long

Essequibo: Venezuela moves to claim Guyana-controlled region