Arrr! Venezuela's scurvy government 'n opposition be findin' common ground on appealin' process fer banned candidates, mateys!
2023-12-01
Arrr, mateys! By the watchful eye of Norwegian diplomats, the scurvy Venezuelan government and opposition be havin' struck a deal on how to decide who be fit to run for president in the next election. Yo-ho-ho, let the appeals begin!
Venezuela's government and a faction of the opposition have reached an agreement on a process for aspiring presidential candidates who were banned from running for office to challenge their ban. The candidates have until December 15 to file an appeal against their ban, which has been used by the Venezuelan government to sideline opponents. The agreement is part of a broader deal signed in October between a U.S.-backed opposition group and the government of Nicolás Maduro, focusing on electoral conditions for the 2024 presidential election. It is also expected to prevent the U.S. government from re-imposing certain economic sanctions on Maduro's administration. The October agreement led to some sanctions relief in the oil, gas, and mining sectors, but the U.S. threatened to reverse the relief if Venezuela failed to establish a timeline and process for reinstating all candidates. The agreement instructs interested candidates to file an appeal in person before Venezuela's top court's electoral chamber, which is known for its loyalty to the government. The agreement also imposes restrictions on offensive or disrespectful language against the state. The document lacks clarity and a timeline for the court's ruling. Critics find the process thin and comical, but it is likely to satisfy the Biden administration and prevent snapback sanctions review. The ban against opposition leader María Corina Machado alleges fraud and tax violations and accuses her of seeking U.S. economic sanctions on Venezuela. The UN-backed panel has criticized Maduro's government for curbing democratic freedoms. Negotiations between Maduro's government and the U.S.-backed opposition began in Mexico City in 2021 and have faced various challenges.