Caracas: Leader of the opposition in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado, said on Monday that elections cannot take place without her name appearing on the ballot, despite the US threatening to reimpose sanctions on the nation if she is disqualified.
Machado’s 15-year ban from holding public office was reaffirmed on Friday by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, which is partisan to President Nicolas Maduro.
Additionally, it verified that Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential contender, was unable to serve as a potential stand-in for the opposition.
The 56-year-old Machado called the decision “grotesque” but gave no indication that she would withdraw from the contest.
“Nicolas Maduro will not choose the candidate of the people, because the people have already chosen their candidate, period,” Machado stated to her backers.
In October, she declared that she had won the support of nearly three million Venezuelans at an opposition primary. “We are going to win and they must prepare to lose.”
“Without me, elections cannot be held,” she continued.
A mediated agreement was made in Barbados last year between Maduro’s administration and the opposition to have a free and fair election in 2024 with the presence of foreign monitors.
As a result of that accord, US sanctions against Venezuela were loosened, opening the door for a prisoner swap and permitting US-based Chevron to resume limited oil extraction.
On Monday, Washington said that it was reevaluating its stance on sanctions.
The Maduro regime “haven’t taken those actions” promised in Barbados, according to White House spokesperson John Kirby.
Therefore, we have choices at our disposal. I won’t be giving any of those a sneak peek just yet. However, we do have options when it comes to sanctions and other things.”
Machado will continue to be disqualified, according to the Supreme Court, “for being involved… in the corruption plot orchestrated” by Juan Guaido, the former head of the opposition.
Many nations acknowledged Guaido, who is currently living in exile, as the rightful president of Venezuela for many years following the 2018 election, which saw Maduro sworn in for a second term in spite of widespread allegations of fraud.
Although Maduro has not declared that he will run for a third term, this is a widely anticipated move. No date has yet been set for the election which is expected in the second half of 2024.
