Upon learning of the overwhelming victory of the Yes in the consultative referendum in defense of the historical rights of Venezuela over Guayana Esequiba, the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, asserted that “the people has spoken loud and clear: this victory belongs to the entire people of Venezuela without discrimination or partisanship.”
From the Plaza Bolívar (Bolívar Square), accompanied by the People’s Power who took to the streets to celebrate the victory of the Yes option, he pointed out that the popular consultation “has put Venezuela on its feet,” also being a concrete example of the level of preparation and patriotic awareness of Venezuelans. regarding an issue as complex as the territorial controversy over the Essequibo:
“It has been a total success of democracy. An overwhelming victory throughout Venezuela on each question with a very important level of participation of the people. Venezuela won,” he stated.
By emphasizing “Long live the victory of the Venezuelan people!”, the head of state pointed out that the consultative referendum constitutes the first step of the new historical stage “to fight for what is ours, to recover what the liberators left us: the territory of Guayana Esequiba.”
He emphasized that the first steps of national unity, emerged in the heat of the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity, are linked to “uniting everything that can be united for the Homeland, for the future of Venezuela.”
“To unite everything that must be united to fight for Essequibo, to fight for peace,” he stressed.
The first bulletin of the National Electoral Council (CNE), presented after 10:00 p.m, shows the resounding victory of the Yes by registering 10,554,320 votes, a figure subject to change as a result of the extension of the electoral process.
Below are the detailed results of the five questions of the advisory referendum:
1.- Do you agree to reject by all means, in accordance with the Law, the line fraudulently imposed by the Paris Arbitration Award of 1899, which seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba?
Yes: 97.83%
No: 2.17%
2.- Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?
Yes: 98.11%
No: 1.8%
3.- Do you agree with Venezuela’s historical position of not acknowledging the Jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?
Yes; 95.40%
No: 4.10%
4.- Do you agree to oppose, by all legal means, Guyana’s claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?
Yes: 95.94%
No: 4.06%
5.- Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for comprehensive care for the current and future population of that territory that includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and a Venezuelan identity card, in accordance to the Geneva Agreement and International Law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?
Yes: 95.93%
No: 4.07%
