Exclusive-US, European lawmakers jointly condemn Venezuela's handling of election

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leaders of foreign affairs committees of the U.S. Congress and legislatures across Europe have joined to condemn the Venezuelan government's handling of last weekend's disputed election, according to a statement seen by Reuters, an unprecedented show of unity intended to pressure Caracas to release full vote tallies.

Senator Ben Cardin, who chairs the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, worked with his counterparts across Europe to work collectively to put pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government.

"Our governments are closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, and will work together to hold Maduro accountable should he continue to disregard the democratic will of Venezuelan voters to steal yet another election," said the statement, seen by Reuters ahead of its expected release.

By early Friday, leaders of foreign affairs committees from legislatures in Armenia, Moldova, Latvia, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Denmark and Romania had signed on to a statement, said a source familiar with the discussions.

Venezuela's electoral council proclaimed Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the July 28 election with 51% of the vote, immediately sparking fraud accusations.

The country's opposition says its tally of about 90% of the votes shows its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received more than double the support of the incumbent president, in line with independent polling conducted before the contest.

Maduro's government insists he won a third term despite the opposition's claims.

"As Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of our respective national parliaments, we strongly condemn the ongoing attempts in Venezuela to undermine the will of the voters and repress the Venezuelan people following Sunday's election," said the statement seen by Reuters.

The parliamentary leaders called for Maduro's government to allow for transparent, independent verification of the election results immediately, end repression of protests and begin negotiations with Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado, another opposition leader.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Don Durfee and Paul Simao)