Veto and Deportation of Observers Heighten International Tension Ahead of Venezuelan Elections
Venezuelan authorities have prevented a Copa Airlines flight from departing Panama, which was carrying several former Latin American presidents intending to observe the upcoming elections in Venezuela. Among the former leaders were Mireya Moscoso of Panama, Vicente Fox of Mexico, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez of Costa Rica, and Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia, all members of the IDEA Group, an organization of former leaders that is a strong critic of President Nicolás Maduro.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino reported that the flight was filled with Venezuelan passengers heading to vote, and Moscoso recounted seeing many passengers crying and pleading for them to stay. Fox labeled the incident as a "bad sign" for the electoral process.
Simultaneously, the Chilean government sent a formal protest to Venezuela over the deportation of conservative senators José Manuel Rojo Edwards and Felipe Kast, who were also traveling as observers. Kast criticized the situation, claiming it demonstrates the falsehood of claims about democracy in Venezuela.
Additionally, ten congressmen and MEPs from Spain’s Popular Party, along with a Colombian and an Ecuadorian parliamentarian, were also deported upon arrival at Maiquetía Airport in Caracas. These incidents add to regional tensions, exacerbated by Maduro’s warnings of potential "bloodshed" should the opposition win, which has raised concerns among Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa made an urgent call for all forms of hostility to cease and expressed concern over attempts to perpetuate outdated political practices in Venezuela.
Regarding electoral preparations, National Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso stated that everything is set for the elections, which will take place across more than 30,000 polling stations. However, there have been reports of delays and complaints from opposition activists. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López defended the Republic Plan, the security operation for the elections, and rejected accusations that the Armed Forces would act as "arbiters."
González Urrutia, Maduro’s main rival, has urged authorities to respect and uphold the election results. The NGO Foro Penal reported that 135 individuals connected to González Urrutia’s campaign have been arrested, with 47 still detained.
The electoral process will involve 21 million voters out of a total of 30 million Venezuelans. Although polls favor González Urrutia, the chavismo dismisses these results and accuses opponents of planning to disregard the results and incite violence.