The diplomat stressed that the Venezuelan people “know the conditions” in which the electoral process and the elections next November will take place. “They know well that there are disabled political parties, there are political prisoners, there is repression, there is no access to the media,” he explained.
In addition, he expressed “that there are people within the CNE who are doing everything possible to obtain the maximum conditions”, but, despite that, “it still cannot be considered that the regional and municipal elections will be free elections.”
The head of the US mission reiterated that the “playing field is not flat in terms of the elections,” for which he made an urgent call for “free, fair and verifiable elections.”
He also considered that the international community “must be aware of the lack of democratic conditions in the November 21 process.”
“The international community has to keep an eye on when a group can use all the tools of the State. It is not a free and fair election. It is an event and those who are going to participate will try to do their best, but it is obvious that the game is not fair, “he said.
Jorge Ramos: “Mexico has kept a complicit silence on Venezuela”
The government of Nicolás Maduro demands the lifting of the sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe on officials and institutions of his country – such as the state oil company PDVSA – pointing to them as responsible for the economic crisis that plagues the once-rich oil nation, which faces hyperinflation and serious failures of basic services, food and medicine.
In this regard, Story highlighted the need to generate an agreement that prioritizes the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, within the framework of the dialogue between the Government and the opposition, since, if there are no changes in that regard, the United States will not lift the sanctions.
“Without significant changes we will not lift sanctions. I don’t know why they are afraid of free and fair elections,” he said.
He insisted that Maduro “is usurping functions according to the Venezuelan Constitution itself. The issue of Venezuela continues to be important for the United States government and other democracies.”
With information from EFE and Reuters