The United States assures that it supports “a comprehensive and negotiated solution” to the crisis in Venezuela

The government of the United States assured this Thursday that it supports a negotiated solution to the crisis in Venezuela which address the conditions necessary for free elections, But he considers that it is up to the people of this country to decide whether the new National Electoral Council, appointed by the Maduro regime, contributes to this goal, said a senior official.

“The United States supports a comprehensive and negotiated solution to the crisis in Venezuela that addresses all aspects of the conditions necessary for free and fair elections.”said Julie Chung, acting head of the State Department’s Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

The senior official said that “It is up to Venezuelans to decide whether the new National Electoral Council (CNE) contributes to this end.”

On Tuesday, Venezuela’s Chavist Parliament, whose legitimacy is not recognized by much of the international community, appointed a new electoral leadership composed of five members, including two personalities linked to dissent but currently estranged from the president by interim Juan Guaidó.

Chung said the United States continues to push for “fundamental changes” for free and fair elections in Venezuela, “Lift bans on political parties, unconditionally release political prisoners, invite credible international election observers and a public election calendar.”

The United States does not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s second term, as much of the international community (including the European Union and many Latin American countries) does, for irregularities in the 2018 election.

The Chavist National Assembly appointed Alexis Corredor Pérez, Tania D’Amelio, Enrique Márquez, Pedro Calzadilla and Roberto Picón to form the new National Electoral Council (CNE) for the period 2021-2028.

Of these five members, three are linked to the Chavist dictatorship. Calzadilla is a 59-year-old historian who served as Minister of Culture to the late President Chávez between 2011 and 2013. Maduro appointed him Minister of University Education in 2013, a position in which he remained until 2014.

D’Amelio will head the Electoral Council, the CNE entity in charge of the technical organization of the elections, and Corredor Pérez will be in charge of voter registration. Both were members of the PSUV.

The two other members of the CNE – Marquez and Picón – are now opponents of the sector led by Guaidó. Marquez has been appointed vice-president of the CNE.

Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate who faced Chávez and Maduro, considered the designation to be “An essential first step in opening up paths in the constitutional and democratic reconstruction” of the country, but Guaidó rejected the nomination.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, condemned the appointment, but the Spanish government considered it “a first step”.

With information from AFP

KEEP READING: