Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge RodrĂguez speaks to the press after meeting with electoral authorities, January 17, 2025. Photo: AVN.
The president of the National Assembly, Jorge RodrĂguez, stated that all those who wish to be a candidate in upcoming elections must respect the electoral laws. In this regard, he stressed that the SimĂłn BolĂvar Organic Law against the Blockade and for the Protection of Venezuela should be applied in the upcoming election in order to protect the country from situations such as a National Assembly calling for sanctions against the country, like what happened in 2015.
He added that the Organic Law of Electoral Processes expressly states that all the requirements established in the Constitution and the laws for the regulation of the functioning of the State must be complied with in order for a citizen to be a candidate.
In a statement to the press after meeting with the authorities of the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Friday, January 17, the parliamentarian highlighted that the Liberator SimĂłn BolĂvar Organic Law is in force and provides legal measures to ensure that a candidate or an elected authority cannot call for an invasion against the country.
“There is not a single country in the world that would accept that an elected person or a person who aspires to be a candidate to any public post be an agent of a foreign power,” said RodrĂguez.
The president of the National Assembly added that the CNE and other State authorities must establish mechanisms to protect the Venezuelan people’s will expressed through the vote, in view of situations such as the attacks suffered by the Venezuelan electoral system in the July 28 election, and the attack on the right to information, truth, and freedom of expression.
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Respect for laws
RodrĂguez further stated that the meetings on electoral processes held in the National Assembly earlier this week were attended by all the political parties of the democratic opposition that participated in the last elections.
“All political parties that participated in these meetings pointed out that the fundamental principles should be respect for the Constitution, respect for the electoral laws, respect for the independence of the nation, respect for our sovereignty, preservation of peace,” said RodrĂguez.
“It must be said that these democratic opposition sectors participate in the elections, and contrary to the far right, they have always promoted the vote as an element to settle the political and social issues in Venezuela,” he added.
As for the revision of the electoral laws that have been in progress since 2024, RodrĂguez pointed that there are only for the Organic Law of Electoral Processes there are limitations to its modification, as it cannot be modified six months prior to the announcement of an election. However, all other laws can be revised and attended to and the Special Electoral Commission of the National Assembly continues to work on the matter.
He added that it is likely that the National Assembly will be able to present some proposals to the CNE regarding these laws.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
