The Venezuelan government and opposition have announced a partial agreement to hold presidential elections in the second half of 2024, state television VTV reported.
The treaty was defined on Tuesday evening (17) in Barbados, in the Caribbean, in a meeting between delegations from the government and the opposition sector called the United Democratic Platform (PUD), led by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, and Gerardo Blyde, respectively.
The document – signed in the presence of representatives of Norway, the mediator country, and the Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil – is made up of two partial agreements, one for “the promotion of political and electoral rights for all” and another called “vital interests of the nation”.
Considered historic by experts, the agreement concerns the promotion of political rights and electoral guarantees for all, in compliance with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic; and the protection of the nation’s vital interests, in relation to sanctions and respect for Venezuela’s self-determination and sovereignty.
Both delegations recognized “the right of each party to freely choose its candidates and to be able to act throughout the national territory, as well as to be able to contact the National Electoral Council (CNE) to establish and agree on guarantees for the next elections”.
The parties also agreed to invite technical and election observation missions for the elections, including those from the European Union (EU), the African Union, the Organization of American States (OAS), the UN and the Carter Center.
On behalf of Norway, facilitator Dag Nylander praised the willingness shown by both sides in recent weeks and assured that “it is an example of what can be achieved when everyone comes together for the well-being of the people.”
The Barbados meeting therefore constitutes an important stage in the cycle of dialogue that began in Mexico on 13 August 2021. However, the agreement does not include for now the conservative candidate María Corina Machado, declared ineligible for 15 years by Nicolas Maduro’s executive.
The latest polls indicate that the former deputy would surpass the Chavista candidate by more than 40 points in the presidential elections, which is in direct conflict with the aspirations of Maduro, who is determined to remain in power until at least 2030.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
