By Vivian Sequera and Keren Torres
CARACAS/BARQUISMETO, Venezuela (Reuters) – Dressed in dark blue vests bearing the European Union logo, two election observers visited polling stations ahead of Sunday’s election in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, part of their first mission to the South American country in 15 years.
The observers – out of 44 sent in late October to 22 of Venezuela’s 23 states – visited schools that will be polling stations and open early so that citizens can learn about the new voting machines. The military, in charge of the security of the ballot boxes, let the observers snoop.
Venezuelans will elect local councils, mayors and state governors in a Nov. 21 contest that will include opposition parties, which boycotted presidential elections in 2018 and a parliamentary vote in 2020.
The opposition claims that President Nicolas Maduro and his party have won illegitimate victories in previous disputes.
The United States and dozens of other countries do not recognize Maduro’s administration. Venezuela is suffering from a protracted economic and social crisis, exacerbated by harsh US sanctions that have reduced oil exports.
The EU — which has not sent an election observation mission to Venezuela since 2006 — has faced criticism from some opposition figures who say its presence implicitly legitimizes Maduro’s government.
“Sending an electoral mission in no way means recognizing or rejecting any authority,” said Xabier Meilan, the mission’s second-in-command.
Whether Maduro’s government will follow any of the mission’s recommendations — some of which will be published 48 hours after the vote — “depends on the country’s political forces,” Meilan said.
“We don’t have the desire or the ability to impose anything,” he said.
Supporters of the mission hope it will highlight alleged government abuses denounced by the opposition: arrest warrants for politicians who have since fled the country, banning others from running, transporting voters on Socialist Party-funded buses, rulings that have withdrawn some parties from the ballots and registration stalls near polling points to track which government supporters vote.
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