IDEA Group asks Joe Biden and his figures to support Machado's candidacy

IDEA Group asks Joe Biden and his figures to support Machado’s candidacy

Posted On: October 26, 2023

MIAMI.- That Initiative Democratic Republic of Spain and America (IDEA Group) issued a statement addressed to Joe Biden, president of the United States; Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; Ursula Von der Leyden, president of the European Commission and Rishi Sunak, British prime minister, demanded a statement each supporting the candidacy of president María Corina Machado as the standard bearer of the Venezuelan opposition.

The IDEA group made the request due to the persecution carried out by Nicolás Maduro’s regime against the Venezuelan opposition, following the opposition primaries on October 22.

Last week, Machado won the opposition primary with 92%, securing 2.2 million votes. However, Nicolas Maduro’s regime has threatened not to allow him to participate in the 2024 presidential election due to a less than transparent alleged “political disqualification.”

Full letter:

Sir

Joe Biden

President of the United States Washington, DC

Sir

Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Ottawa

Woman

Ursula Von der Leyden

President of the European Commission Bursales

Sir

Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister London

Dear Presidents and Prime Ministers:

The subscribers of this letter, former heads of state and government participating in the Spanish and American Democratic Initiative (IDEA Group), welcome you with all your considerations and appeals to your democratic beliefs regarding the situation in Venezuela.

On October 17, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Venezuelan Unity Platform signed the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All” known as the Barbados Constitution. In this case the party “Recognizes and respects the right of every political actor to choose his candidate…”.

The United States government, on October 18, issued a statement through the Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, stating: “The United States welcomes the signing of the agreement on the electoral path between the Unity Platform and representatives of Nicolas Maduro.”

Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom as subscribers to the Joint Declaration signed following the adoption of the Barbados Act, in the same manner and for this purpose

They demanded, among other things, “the independence of the electoral process and the judiciary” as well as “respect for human and political rights” in Venezuela.

As a result of the above, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control – as indicated in Secretary Blinken’s statement – took action to lift sanctions imposed on the Government of Venezuela. The statement also noted: “The United States has also expressed its hope and understanding that Venezuela will adopt the following measures before the end of November, namely: “1. Determine appropriate processes and deadlines to expedite readmission of all candidates. Everyone who wishes to run for president should be given that opportunity, and be entitled to fair election conditions, freedom

circulation and guarantee of physical security.”

Democratic opposition actors, through the National Main Commission whose members are now being persecuted by the regime, carried out a primary election process on October 22 in which Ms. María Corina Machado was elected in a decisive manner. He achieved a percentage of 92.35% of the 2,253,825 votes received.

Immediately, Mr Diosdado Cabello, the alter ego of Nicolas Maduro’s government and head of the official party, PSUV, declared: “There is not one possibility, not one, not half, not zero point two, not zero point one. .” the possibility that a disqualified person could be included in the presidential election.”

Apart from the fact that the disqualification above is uncertain, carried out by the government, without carrying out any process, especially as required by the Constitution, a definitive criminal punishment, what was expressed by the official representative was made worse by the presence of Cilia Flores, President Maduro’s wife. , who in his presence and in front of the state stated the following: “Let those responsible for this fraud be accountable to the authorities for their crimes.”

In light of these actions that threaten the very notion of respect for democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, we consider and firmly call on the United States Government to act as set forth in the same Secretary of State’s declaration: “The failure to comply with the provisions of this agreement will allow the United States to withdraw from the action he has taken. The United States remains firmly committed to the Venezuelan people and will continue to work with the international community to help restore democracy and the rule of law so that the Venezuelan people can rebuild their lives and their country. “The United States supports the Venezuelan people and actors who want a democratic future.”

We also respectfully ask the Canadian and British governments, as well as the European Union, to act in accordance with their conditions as witnesses to the Barbados agreement, demanding that María Corina Machado’s presidential candidacy be respected, in line with the commitments taken by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We welcome you with care: