The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), whose leader is the dictator Nicolás Maduro, spoke out this Monday (5) in favor of holding this year's presidential elections “as quickly as possible”, within the deadline necessary for the National Electoral Council (CNE) organize them.
During a meeting called by Parliament – which is controlled by Chavismo – to prepare a proposal for an electoral calendar, Francisco Ameliach, former governor of Carabobo, made the proposal on behalf of the party, of which he is a member of the council.
“The PSUV proposes that, given the geopolitical events and the national situation (…), we agree that the elections should be held in Venezuela as quickly as possible, in accordance with the deadlines and technical capabilities of the CNE,” he said, making reference to the alleged persecution and plans to kill the Venezuelan dictator.
Ameliach, who did not define a specific date, later stated that other politicians, some of them pre-candidates for the presidency, also presented proposals for this project to be taken to the CNE.
The opposition parties First Venezuela (PV) and Ação Democrática (AD), dissidents from the main anti-Chavista group, proposed holding these elections with the first round on July 5th and the second on July 28th.
Presidential candidates Javier Bertucci and Antonio Ecarri called for international observation, including a mission from the European Union.
The consultation process opened by Parliament is questioned by the majority of the opposition, grouped in the United Democratic Platform (PUD), who believe that the government is planning undemocratic elections.
The PUD, which does not participate in these meetings, denounced the violation of agreements by the government, after the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) ratified that the presidential candidate of the anti-Chavista bloc, María Corina Machado, will not be able to run in any election until the year 2036.
Return of sanctions
Machado's disqualification prompted the US to re-establish sanctions on Venezuela's gold sector, threatening to do the same with the oil sector. “Relief for Venezuela's oil and gas sectors will be renewed in April only if Maduro's representatives follow through on their commitments,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week.
After Chavismo and the opposition reached an agreement in October in Barbados on a roadmap for presidential elections in 2024, Washington suspended a series of economic sanctions on Venezuela for six months.
On the occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Yvan Gil, issued a note on the social network X, repudiating the measure taken by the White House. In the publication, the chancellor stated that the Venezuelan regime rejects new attempts at US blackmail and interference in its internal affairs.
“These actions constitute an ultimatum against the entire Venezuelan society, as they use coercion and threats to impose a coup on the country, ignoring State institutions and the well-being of the people,” said the minister.
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