MIAMI.- This Saturday, January 27th, US Department of State issued a statement following the decision of the Political-Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela on January 26 to disqualify the winner of the democratic opposition primaries, Maria Corina Machado.
Since 2014, Maria Corina Machado faces obstacles from the Chavista regime, in a saga that begins with an investigation by the Comptroller’s Office, with the then comptroller Elvis Amoroso (who is now president of the National Electoral Council, CNE). In 2015 she was disqualified for a year. More accusations and investigations followed, which to date have attempted to paralyze her actions as a measure to prevent her political charisma from allowing her to gain more strength.
The decision of the Chavista TSJ this Friday, January 26, once again raises the arguments of the Comptroller General of the Republic, and implies that the opponent cannot hold public office for a period of 15 years.
This response from the TSJ is based on a request presented on December 15 by leader María Corina Machado, who won the opposition primary elections in October with an overwhelming 2.4 million votes.
USA: the process “lacked basic elements”
As the statement of the US Department of Statesaid disqualification “is inconsistent with the commitment of Nicolás Maduro’s representatives to hold competitive Venezuelan presidential elections in 2024.”
“The reinstatement process lacked basic elements,” since María Corina Machado “did not receive a copy of the accusations against her nor was she given the opportunity to respond to them,” adds the report from this federal entity.
According to Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, “this deeply worrying decision runs counter to the commitments made by Maduro and his representatives under the Barbados electoral roadmap agreement to allow all parties to select their candidates for the presidential elections.
Currently, the United States is reviewing its sanctions policy against Venezuela, not only based on this fact, but also on recent political attacks against candidates from the democratic opposition and civil society.
And the Barbados Agreement?
Within the legislative space of the United States, the senator’s firm position stands out Marco Rubio in light of the recent actions of the Maduro regime, and in particular the end of the Barbados Agreement.
Rubio asked on social networks: “When will those in charge of US decline within the Biden Administration realize that Maduro had NO intention of abiding by the Barbados agreement and will they finally decide to reimpose sanctions against the narco-regime?”
Response from María Corina Machado
It’s not the end for Maria Corina Machado. This was stated by the leader in her statements after the ratification of the TSJ. “Nicolás Maduro and his criminal system chose the worst path for them: fraudulent elections. That is not going to happen. Let no one doubt it, this is until the end,” she wrote in X.
And he added: “The regime decided to end the Barbados Agreement. What is not over is our fight to conquer democracy through free and fair elections.”
FOUNTAIN: US Department of State
