Brazil and Venezuela exchange criticism after Maduro blocked yet another opposition candidacy in the country | National Newspaper

Brazil and Venezuela exchange criticism after Maduro blocked yet another opposition candidacy in the country

A failed attempt of professor Corina Yoris to run for President of Venezuela as the main opponent of Nicolás Maduro produced the first critical manifestation from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the electoral process in the neighboring country. And, as a result, a response from the Maduro government that expresses irritation with the Itamaraty’s stance.

Throughout Monday (25), the opposition released videos to show that the National Electoral Council system did not accept the registration of philosopher Corina Yoris. Yoris was the replacement for María Corina Machado, who had her political rights suspended by the Supreme Court of Venezuela, despite having received more than 92% of the votes in the primaries.

This Tuesday (26), early in the morning, María Corina Machado said that Nicolás Maduro’s regime has already chosen the candidates who, in fact, will participate in the election. The rejection of Corina Yoris’ ticket generated criticism from the international community.

On Monday (25), in a joint statement, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru It is Uruguay stated that blocking candidates creates questions about the integrity It is transparency of the electoral process. This Tuesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre declared that it is essential that Maduro recognizes and respects the right of all candidates to run.

In October 2023, the opposition and government signed, in Barbados, a agreement for free and direct elections. In return, the U.S would ease economic sanctions. But, in January 2024, the Venezuelan court banned the candidacy of María Corina Machado – accused by the Attorney General’s Office, controlled by Maduro, of treason against the country. And the Americans resumed sanctions.

Brazil was one of the guarantors of the opposition’s agreement with the Venezuelan government, in Barbados, together with the United States, Colombia and Norway. This Tuesday, Itamaraty expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that Nicolás Maduro was not fulfilling what he promised. In the note, released at 1:30 p.m., Itamaraty stated that “follows with expectation and concern the development of the electoral process in Venezuela“.

“Brazil notes that the candidate nominated by the Unitary Platform, an opposition political force, over which there were no judicial decisions, was prevented from registering, which is not compatible with the Barbados agreements. The impediment was not, until the moment, the subject of any official explanation”, says the statement.

The Brazilian government also stated that “repudiates any type of sanctions that, in addition to being illegal, only contribute to isolating Venezuela and increasing the suffering of its people“. Three hours later, the government of Nicolás Maduro repudiated the Itamaraty statement. According to the note, an interference that seemed dictated by the United States State Department.

The Venezuelan government’s note gives no explanation for the opposition candidate’s unsuccessful attempts to register. It also makes no mention of the commitments made in the Barbados agreement; demands that Brazil respect the diplomatic principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; states that Venezuela is one of the most robust democracies in the region; declares that the electoral process will be carried out successfully; and, finally, thanks President Lula for his solidarity in condemning sanctions imposed by the United States.

Twelve candidates were registered with the Electoral Council this Monday (25), including the current president. One of those registered is Manuel Rosales, current governor of the State of Zulia, who already faced former president Hugo Chávez in 2006. His party declared that, due to circumstances not yet explained, the opposition was heading towards staying out of the election and that abstention is not an option.

In the middle of the afternoon this Tuesday (26), the party of María Corina and Corina Yoris announced that the Electoral Council had granted a few more hours of time to register a candidate. In order not to lose its place on the ticket, the party decided to register the candidacy of Edmundo Gonzales, a former Venezuelan ambassador to Argentina. The strategy is to replace it later with another consensus name. The National Electoral Council confirmed Edmundo Gonzales’ registration.