The National Electoral Council, controlled by Chavismo, has announced that it will interfere in the opposition primary elections in Venezuela.

He National Election Council Venezuela’s (CNE) announced on Friday that it would provide technical assistance to opposition primary elections scheduled for October 22. Elvis AmorosoThe president of the CNE made the announcement in a statement at the organization’s headquarters.

The official assured that the decision was unanimous by the CNE. “Providing a comprehensive, constitutional and legal technical service to the request made by the Organization for Political Purposes (Anti-Savista) Unitary Platform”Regarding primaries in which 13 candidates will participate.

The grant was originally requested in June Jesus Maria Cassel, chairman of the National Primary Commission, a committee formed by opposition parties to organize the electoral process. Cassel pointed out that the CNE did not respond to the request, which led the protest to continue in the organization in a way. Independent.

Amoroso pointed out that the Electoral Commission decided to invite Casale to the CNE headquarters in Caracas to hold a “technical meeting” with the election rectors: “All the decisions taken in this matter were unanimously approved by the rectors. Election”.

Last June, the Electoral Commission received a communication signed by Cassel, in which he noted that the opposition had requested “technical assistance to organize the primaries of the Unity Platform”.

However, after some time, the Rectors of the Electoral Council surprisingly resigned from their posts. In this situation, the opposition party said it decided to conduct internal elections without the support of the organizationThe Chavista Parliament, which was in office until August 24, appointed a new board headed by Amoroso.

A proposal is being made that the government should conduct this round of elections ControversySince the objective of dictatorship It creates a confusion in the opposition.

Thirteen opposition candidates will compete in primaries to determine who will be the anti-Chavismo candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Despite Chavismo’s claims that opposition primaries will not take place, and encouraging legislative inquiries into its funding, the commission has made progress in issuing a national primary ballot and locating polling centers that include churches, squares and other locations. .

Current polls show former vice chancellor Maria Corina Machado leads in voting intent, followed by ex-Gov Henrique Gabriels. Both candidates have experienced incidents during their campaign events, which they attribute to Chavismo sympathizers.

The CNE’s participation in opposition primary elections adds to an already complicated political situation in Venezuela, There the opposition parties are trying to cement a unified strategy for the next presidential election.

Elections are scheduled to be held next year. However, the final date is yet to be fixed.

After the president’s re-election in 2018 was described as fraudulent by the opposition and dozens of countries, the Maduro regime, the opposition and the United States are trying to move toward an agreement on how to ensure a free and fair process.

In recent months, Authorities have banned some opposition candidates A decision that has been criticized by Washington would require public office, including Maria Corina Machado.