(CNN Spanish) — Colombia's President Gustavo Pedro spoke about the electoral process in Venezuela at a time of political tension in the neighboring country, in which part of the opposition, led by María Corina Machado, denounced the lack of guarantees of accession. Election process next July.
From Colombia, Pedro, described by opponents as an “ally” of the Venezuelan government, and who has wanted to restore ties with the government of Nicolás Maduro since the start of his government, has said nothing of what happened in Venezuela. The registration of opposition party María Corina Machado as presidential candidate is an “anti-democratic coup”.
Pedro referred to the political right to choose and be elected, which he said was “not an individual, but a social” right, and criticized the decision of “administrative” election officials to bar him from participating in elections.
“Today this debate is very well argued in the events of Venezuela,” Pedro said at the inauguration of the new state councilor, Gloria María Gómez Montoya.
“Ms. María Corina and many others were previously disqualified from participating in electoral campaigns by the administrative authorities… The same thing is happening in Colombia: here as a kind of double standard, we attack what they are doing there, because it is undoubtedly a protest. A democratic coup, but that it is also being done here. We hide.
As of Tuesday, the Venezuelan government had not commented on Pedro's statements and did not respond to a request for comment sent by CNN.
Pedro's words came as a faction of the opposition led by María Corina Machado denounced Maduro's desire to field an “opposition” candidate to suit him in the July 28 presidential election. Venezuela's Supreme Court approved Machado's political disqualification and his successor, Corina Yoris, could not register. He said he did not get the digital registration key and could not go to the National Election Council.
Machado sent a message to his followers on the social network X, highlighting left-wing voices critical of the Maduro regime.
“What they did was so vulgar, so obscene, they had to call out their former allies. Maduro cannot choose a candidate to face him in the presidential election. We are not going to allow that. They will not be elected.” Maria Corina Machado said This Monday on his X social account.
A week ago, The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement In it he asked the Maduro government and opposition sectors to unconditionally comply with the provisions of the Barbados Agreement, in which Colombia acted as an observer. In the statement, the Colombian government reiterated the need for a “free, fair and competitive presidential election process.” He also expressed concern about problems with the registration of some opposition candidates and, without mentioning Yoris by name, said this fact “could affect the confidence of some sectors of the international community”.
Machado previously thanked the governments of Colombia, Brazil and France “For their stances in the last hours reaffirming that our struggle is just and democratic.” He urged the international community to allow Yoris to register his candidacy.
President of Venezuela Euan Gil, He accused the United States of being “the leaders of the anti-Venezuela operation” and “the owners of the circus that is trying to delegitimize and ignore the next presidential election.”
But Pedro is not the only left-wing leader. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former ally of Maduro, said in late March that the ban on registering opposition candidate Corina Yoris in Venezuela's presidential election was “extreme” and had no “legal” explanation. He also said that there is no politics.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its concern about the difficulties reported by opponents for their registration in Venezuela: “The candidate indicated by the anti-political Unitary Platform and no judicial decisions weighed, prevented from registering. , Barbados does not comply with the agreements”, the Agreement on Political and Electoral Guarantees for this year's elections, in August 2022 Within the framework of negotiations initiated under the mediation of the Kingdom of Norway.
Venezuela's presidential election will be held on July 28. So far there are 13 registered candidates nominated by 37 organizations and political parties. According to the National Election Council. Nicolás Maduro registered as the presidential candidate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) at a public event in which he said there would be elections on July 28 with or without the opposition. Maduro is running for a third term.
