Caracas, December 4, 2023 (Presidential Press Office) – Upon learning of the overwhelming victory of the Yes vote in the consultative referendum in defense of Venezuela’s historic rights over the Essequibo, the President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, stated that “the people have spoken loud and clear: this victory belongs to all the Venezuelan people without discrimination or partisanship.”
From Bolivar’s Square, President Maduro, accompanied by the People’s Power that took to the streets to celebrate the triumph of the Yes vote, pointed out that the people’s consultation “has brought Venezuela to its feet,” being also a concrete example of the level of preparation and patriotic conscience of Venezuelans regarding such a complex issue as the territorial controversy over the Essequibo.
“It has been a total success of democracy. It’s an overwhelming victory throughout Venezuela of every question with a significant level of participation of the people. Venezuela won,” he affirmed.
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 achieve the recovery of what the liberators left us: the territory of the Guayana Esequiba.”
He emphasized that the first steps of the national union, which arose in the heat of the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity, are linked to “uniting everything that can unite for the Homeland, for the future of Venezuela.”
“To unite everything that must be united to fight for the Essequibo, to fight for peace,” he stressed.
The first bulletin of the National Electoral Council (CNE), presented after 10:00 p.m., evidences the resounding victory of the Yes side with 10 million 554 thousand 320 votes, a figure subject to change due to the extension of the electoral process.
The following are the detailed results of the five questions of the consultative referendum:
1.- Do you agree to reject by all means, in accordance with the Law, the line fraudulently imposed by the Paris Arbitral Award of 1899, which intends to dispossess us of our Essequibo?
Yes 97.83% Yes
No 2.17% No
Do you support the Geneva Agreement of 1966 as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the dispute over the territory of the Essequibo?
Yes 98.11% Yes
No1.8% No
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 dispute over the territory of the Essequibo?
Yes 95.40% Yes
No 4.10% No
4.- Do you agree to oppose, by all means in accordance with the law, Guyana’s claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?
Yes 95.94% Yes
No 4.06% No
Do you agree with the creation of the state of Guayana Esequiba and the development of an accelerated plan for the integral attention of the current and future population of that territory, including, among others, the granting of Venezuelan citizenship and identity cards, in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and International Law, consequently incorporating said state in the map of the Venezuelan territory?
Yes 95.93% Yes
No 4.07% No
