The OAS condemned the new formation of the National Electoral Council of the Venezuelan dictatorship

The Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday condemned the formation in Venezuela of a new National Electoral Council (CNE) by the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. The agency said in a statement that the appointments made by “an illegitimate National Assembly”, “They are contrary to the democratic rule of law and to the independence of the political powers of the State”.

The OAS recalled that the Permanent Council of the organization had rejected the “fraudulent elections” organized by the dictatorship of Maduro on December 9, 2020, “for not having been free or fair in accordance with the conditions established by international law; for lack of impartiality and transparency; for not having had the participation of all political actors and citizens; for not having released the political prisoners; lack of independence of the electoral authority; and for not having had an independent and credible international election observation ”.

“This original illegitimacy renders its acts and decisions null and void, as well as any legislation which it has approved”, highlights the text published on Tuesday, a few hours after the appointment by the Chavist Parliament of the five rectors who will constitute the National Electoral Council for the next seven years.

After a process of more than a month, during which 103 candidates were presented, the deputies voted in favor of a proposal of a commission, from which the quintet formed by the Chavistas emerged. Alexis Corredor Pérez, Tania D’Amelio and Pedro Calzadillaand opponents Enrique Marquez and Roberto Picón.

The new rectors, to assume these functions, should not be members of political organizations, as established by the Constitution. However, D’Amelio, for example, is known to have served as Rector of the CNE for eleven years since 2009 and to have shown an affinity with Chavism. In addition, He was a member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) when he left office.

At the same time, Corredor Pérez was a member of the interviewed National Constituent Assembly (ANC) which was elected in 2017 and which was dissolved at the end of last year without having drafted a new constitution, as promised.

Calzadilla, for his part, was Minister of University Education for the Maduro regime in 2014.

The new rectors were sworn in this afternoon, according to the President of Parliament, Chavista Jorge Rodríguez.

Interim President Juan Guaidó assured that “the imposition of an electoral arbitrator” may “drag Venezuela into a more serious disaster”. “The consequences of wanting to impose an electoral arbitrator will be the same as in 2018 and 2020: drag Venezuela into a greater catastrophe”He said on his Twitter account, referring to the presidential and legislative elections held in those years.

He also said that the main opposition parties are “united and firm on a clear path: free, fair and verifiable elections”. “Only an agreement, with the necessary international support, in favor of the end of this tragedy and the holding of free and fair elections to face the humanitarian emergency and have justice, is a real solution and they will be supported by Parliament and the democratic alternative, “he concludes.

The press release from the parties, united in the Unitary Platform, asks that the electoral arbitrator not be imposed “unilaterally”: “The CNE, along with the rest of the electoral conditions, must be agreed so that we can all have free, fair and competitive elections.”

The opposition reiterated its “total readiness, with the support of the international community, to move forward in a major comprehensive agreement that provides the solutions our people need, the return to democracy and the guarantees necessary to make it sustainable in the world. time”.

“No partial negotiation which does not address the underlying problems, and which takes place behind the back and without the participation of the vast majority of legitimate democratic favors, will be able to achieve the agreement necessary for a solution for the country” , they stressed.

On the contrary, they consider that the “partial negotiations respond to” Maduro’s strategy “of trying to produce bills in the democratic ranks and in the international community”.

“For this reason, we urge the Venezuelan people, all political and social factors of the country and the entire international community to openly and actively support the construction of a national agreement with the international support that makes it possible to achieve all the conditions electoral “, they add.

This agreement must also move forward to secure an election calendar, the arrival of humanitarian aid and “the freedom of all political prisoners”, among others.

With information from EFE

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