Venezuela's Electoral Council has begun reviewing 13 nominations for the July 28 presidential race. At the end of the in-depth analysis, which will end on April 1st, the body will make known the names of those who have been admitted to the dispute in which President Nicolas Maduro is seeking a third mandate.
Numerous countries, from South America to Europe, have criticized the exclusion of the opposition candidate, university philosophy professor Corina Yoris, delegate of the leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidacy was prevented by an administrative decision, which deprived her of of political rights for 15 years.
Lula and Macron: 'The exclusion of Yoris is a serious matter'
"We will do everything to ensure that Venezuela reinstates all the candidates and for more transparent elections. We condemn that a very good candidate was excluded" from the vote on July 28. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said this yesterday in a press conference with the Brazilian head of state, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, referring to Corina Yoris, opposition candidate, indicated by the leader Maria Corina Machado. Lula, for his part, defined the candidate's exclusion as "a serious fact".
Mujica: 'Maduro does not respect the elementary rules of democracy'
Former Uruguayan president José 'Pepe' Mujica said Venezuela is governed by "a stubborn regime that has put a blindfold on", which perceives itself as "a besieged citadel, where any dissident is a traitor".
In a radio interview, Mujica - questioned about the arrests and other obstacles posed by Nicolas Maduro's government to the opposition - said that "the political system of Venezuela is as if it were always on guard, and does not respect the most basic rules of democracy"
"We must respect those who think differently, because if it is a question of everyone agreeing then we return to the monarchy. We need freedom to be able to disagree", underlined the former president, who in In recent months he has distanced himself from the Caracas government, which a month ago he defined as "authoritarian, almost a dictatorial system".
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