The Venezuelan opposition demanded on Saturday that the Supreme Court withdraw its confirmation of the exclusion from the race of its presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado, who was sentenced to 15 years, a request also sent by Washington, threatening to reintroduce sanctions against the country .
“We demand the annulment of this decision because the procedure has been violated,” said the head of the opposition delegation in the dialogue process with the government, Gerardo Blyde, to the press, denouncing “a summary procedure”.
“There was a breach of due process and a violation of the right to defense,” Mr Blyde, a lawyer by profession, continued, denouncing the “discretionary” nature of the proceedings.
Venezuela's Supreme Court on Friday upheld the ban “for 15 years” of 56-year-old Maria Corina Machado, who in October won by a wide margin the Venezuelan opposition's primaries for the 2024 presidential election, the exact date of which has not yet been set.
Ms. Machado disputed her ban, particularly for “treason,” after she supported American sanctions against the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduro.
The appeal to the Supreme Court was achieved thanks to pressure from the United States through a negotiation process brokered by Norway.
“We are preparing a written complaint to be sent to the Norwegians and the countries supporting the process, denouncing the violation of the agreement,” added Mr. Blyde, who, however, clarified that the opposition “has not left the negotiating table. “.
Beliefs in Latin America
An agreement signed in Barbados in October 2023 gave those who “want to stand” in the 2024 presidential election the opportunity to challenge their ineligibility.
In return, the US relaxed the embargo on Venezuelan oil, gas and gold. After Machado's appeal was rejected, they said they were considering new sanctions.
The government's dialogue spokesman, Hector Rodríguez, responded on Saturday by calling the American sanctions “illegal and politically useless.”
The governments of Argentina and Uruguay expressed “concern” following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Ecuador noted that the latter “contradicts the spirit of the Barbados Agreement, which aims to facilitate the holding of democratic and transparent elections in Venezuela.”
The country has been led since 1999 by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which first brought Hugo Chávez to power and, after his death in 2013, his successor Nicolas Maduro.
Many observers believe that Ms. Machado, a liberal known for her combativeness, could succeed in rallying behind her a historically often divided opposition against Nicolas Maduro, who is likely to seek a third term as president.