United
States and other nations in the region should it apply "more pressure"
the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, before the parliamentary
elections in that country and be prepared to respond with "sanctions" if
these elections are not free and fair, he said today The Washington Post.
In an editorial, the newspaper notes that "already established" that there is a risk that these elections on December 6 in Venezuela are not "free and fair" and mentions a recent letter of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States American States (OAS), Luis Almagro.
In that letter, addressed to the president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena, Almagro says that neither "can look the other way" on the alleged violations of rights of the Venezuelan electoral process.
"An election requires that all stakeholders, citizens, political parties, media and civil society in general have secured the full enjoyment of all civil and political rights," argues Almagro, who mentions the disqualification of candidates for the Venezuelan opposition.
The Post described as "encouraging" that letter of Almagro, who he says is "a rare case of a high Latin American leader who publicly challenges the political abuse of Venezuela".
"What is not clear is whether Mr. Maduro openly resort to fraud or violence to prevent a victory for the opposition, and if the United States and the people of Venezuela, after years of quietly tolerate the destruction of democracy, used their influence to stop it, "the paper said.
In an editorial, the newspaper notes that "already established" that there is a risk that these elections on December 6 in Venezuela are not "free and fair" and mentions a recent letter of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States American States (OAS), Luis Almagro.
In that letter, addressed to the president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena, Almagro says that neither "can look the other way" on the alleged violations of rights of the Venezuelan electoral process.
"An election requires that all stakeholders, citizens, political parties, media and civil society in general have secured the full enjoyment of all civil and political rights," argues Almagro, who mentions the disqualification of candidates for the Venezuelan opposition.
The Post described as "encouraging" that letter of Almagro, who he says is "a rare case of a high Latin American leader who publicly challenges the political abuse of Venezuela".
"What is not clear is whether Mr. Maduro openly resort to fraud or violence to prevent a victory for the opposition, and if the United States and the people of Venezuela, after years of quietly tolerate the destruction of democracy, used their influence to stop it, "the paper said.
In addition, the Post recalls that Maduro's government "has rejected" the proposed electoral observation by the OAS and the European Union (EU).
It also alerts the newspaper that Maduro is "hinting" that would take "extraordinary measures" if it fails a good result in the elections, which, "given the mood" of Venezuelans face of economic crisis facing the country, "could trigger mass unrest".
The opposition, grouped in the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), has placed its hopes in this election committed in several opinion polls published in recent months to give a margin of victory loose.
The last elections were held in Venezuela's municipal December 8, 2013, in which Chavez won the majority of the 300 municipalities of the country. EFE