Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro said Thursday that the agreement signed between the socialist government and Venezuela's “opposition” to hold “free and fair” presidential elections in 2024 has been “mortally wounded.” '' and suggested canceling the election.
The agreement, signed in Barbados in October through the mediation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, committed Maduro to taking steps towards holding “free and fair” presidential elections in late 2024. . Part of the measures included lifting the ban.Bans on opposition politicians from running for office, including a ban on Maduro's María Colina Machado. presumptive Rivals in a hypothetical election event. President Maduro did not lift the ban or set a date for elections when he declared the plan null and void.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro waves the national flag during an event commemorating the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez in Caracas, Venezuela, January 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas)
In exchange for campaign promises that have clearly become invalid, leftist President Joe Biden's administration has given the rogue socialist regime generous oil and gas sanctions relief. package This will now allow state oil company PDVSA to once again freely sell Venezuelan oil and gas on the US and international markets.
Sanctions relief granted by President Joe Biden has lifted sanctions imposed on PDVSA. 2019 During former President Donald Trump's administration, the country sanctioned state oil companies in response to the socialist regime's countless human rights abuses against its own citizens.
“Today, the Barbados Accord has been mortally wounded. We declare that they have been stabbed, kicked and are in intensive care,” President Maduro said. Said During an official event. Although President Maduro showed no sign of honoring his commitments, he insisted that the agreement be saved and that the two sides could “reach a true national agreement face-to-face through dialogue, without hidden cards or dire plans.” “We hope to be able to advance a major agreement based on this.''
President Maduro's statement: control This week, he dubbed the dissidents “Bolivarian Rage.” This is in response to the alleged discovery of a “foreign conspiracy plot” to kill President Maduro and provoke “violent and seditious actions” against the ruling socialist regime.
In the first hours of the Bolivarian Rage crackdown, three of Machado's election officials were kidnapped and the regional headquarters of his party was attacked. Vente Venezuela, in at least 10 states across the country. Other political parties and civil society groups also reported vandalism.
🇻 | Safe mission of Juan Freites, activities in Camp Paña of Maria Colina Machado in Venezolana. pic.twitter.com/X6eIz4dWPj
— UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) January 23, 2024
Vente Venezuela has been released statement On Thursday, he called on U.S. authorities to address the situation in light of their involvement in the collapsed election deal.
“While the U.S. government has made concessions to the regime, including the suspension of some sanctions, serious human rights violations persist in Venezuela, including the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of several Venezuelan regional leaders,” the statement said. has been written.
Machado appealed his suspension to a socialist-run national court in December, but the court has not yet issued a ruling. She is therefore currently prohibited from running in this year's “free and fair” elections, and the Maduro government has publicly stated its intention to support the ban.
Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, was harshly critical. claimed Congress on Thursday said it was “impossible” for Machado to be a candidate in Venezuela's elections.Rodriguez slams Machado suggestion Creation of the Peace Corps to crack down on organized crime groups in Venezuela and establish order within the country.
Rodriguez, who led the administration's delegation to the Barbados negotiations, claimed that Machado's proposal was actually an annihilation plan. Chavez faction.
Supporters welcome opposition presidential candidate Maria Colina Machado as she arrives at the polling station during the opposition primary elections in Caracas, Venezuela, October 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix)
“This woman was told she needed to wash her face a little bit, and Machado needed to wash her face a little bit. They forgot to tell her to delete the tweet,” Rodriguez said. He referred to the Twitter post in which he made the claim. Mr. Rodríguez later insisted that elections would be held in Venezuela regardless of the deal, but that Mr. Maduro would win.
Rodriguez too accused Machado suspected of involvement in 'all assassination' plot Chavesta leader” and regime supporters.
“She didn't even have the foresight to delete her posts (previously called Tweets). I didn't have the foresight to delete her posts (formerly called Tweets). I received the item,” he said.
Rodriguez did not publicly provide any evidence to support all the accusations against Machado.
At a subsequent press conference, Rodriguez “swore” to children that free and fair elections would never be held “again” and that the “opposition” intended to “annihilate” democracy and “hand over” the country's resources to foreign countries. He claimed that.
“Free and fair elections? Only for them, for a caste with a cursed surname. [referring to establishment “opposition” figureheads].About my kids, I swear I won't do it again, because we know you [Machado] It’s coming,” he said. “When you talk about free and fair elections, include the people. They have the right to have the sanctions you asked for lifted.”
Última Hora | Jorge Rodríguez denounced, “Condemn the end of democracy and the existence of Riquesas.''
“¿Elecciones libres y justas? Para ellos. Por miss hijos se los juro, nunca más, porque ya sabemos a lo que vienen”, afirmó. https://t.co/KB8Uskh2mI pic.twitter.com/tIMTljjFFK
— AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) January 25, 2024
vote released In November, it was suggested that if a free and fair presidential election were actually held, Mr. Machado would easily defeat Mr. Maduro with about 70% of the vote.
in interview Speaking on Colombian news channel NTN24, Brian Nichols, the assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs, called the ongoing situation in Venezuela “extremely alarming” and said the United States “has made progress toward competitive elections in Venezuela.” It doesn't say “I can't see it.”
“It's a very difficult moment. It's harassment from public servants. Vente Venezuela and other opposition parties participated from election headquarters in various states. That's very concerning,” Nichols said.
Nichols asserted that the United States is considering the possibility of withdrawing the sanctions relief package given to the Maduro regime if the agreement signed regarding Barbados does not materialize.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
