Cambio de fecha de elecciones legislativas y regionales en Venezuela para mayo
The electoral authority in Venezuela announced on Wednesday that it has decided to change the legislative and regional elections initially planned for April 27 to May 25, arguing that they are trying to «facilitate and promote the participation of different actors in society.»
Elvis Amoroso, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), stated that the change in the date of the parliamentary elections, regional legislative governors, and council is «the result of suggestions from different democratic factors in the country.»
In announcing the call for the initial date, he mentioned that political organizations and candidates must sign a document committing to «respect and abide by all events related to the elections, including the results issued by the CNE.»
Opposition Requirements
Earlier on Wednesday, the opposition coalition in Venezuela announced that, in order to consider «any participation» in the upcoming elections, several requirements must be met, including negotiations based on recognizing the former opposition, Edmundo González.
«The fight to respect the current constitution and July 28 implies an analysis of the conditions set out in the early call,» the text stated.
The United Democratic Platform (PU) also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and asylum seekers in embassies. They also requested guarantees for exiles to return to Venezuela, a country in a long-standing political crisis.
Other requirements included an end to repression and persecution of those demanding respect for the results of the July 28 elections, restoration of political rights, and the ability to freely choose their electoral symbol in accordance with their rules and regulations.
«The electoral conditions we are fighting for, including, among many others, the existence of a reliable electoral arbiter that respects the results, as well as the presence of qualified international observation,» were emphasized.
Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the presidential elections on July 28 last year, but the opposition, backed by their witnesses’ reports, denounced fraud and attributed the victory to González, who is currently in exile.
González, 75, initially planned to return to Venezuela to assume office on January 10, but the trip was postponed for security reasons. He continues to seek the conditions for his return.
Despite international calls for transparent and verifiable results, the CNE did not release detailed data, while the opposition published minutes kept by their witnesses.
Several countries do not recognize Maduro as president.
It is argued that rebuilding an «electoral path» involves restoring political and institutional conditions and real electoral guarantees that would make any call a true option.
The leader of the Venezuelan opposition, María Corina Machado, maintained that until the results of the presidential elections are recognized, it is not appropriate to participate in any type of election.
Machado evaluated the decision of opposition parties on Wednesday and emphasized that «participating in the charade imposed by Maduro is to ignore the popular mandate.»
In its final report released this week, the technical mission from the Carter Center, invited by the CNE following agreements signed by the government and the opposition in Barbados, recommended that Venezuelan authorities demonstrate «respect for the will of Venezuelan citizens to allow for a transparent and independent review of electoral results.»
The United Nations Electoral Expert Group, which conducted the presidential elections, stated in an initially private report that the management of election results by the Electoral Authority did not meet the «basic requirements of transparency and integrity to organize credible elections.»
FUENTE
