Carlos Prosperi with Henry Ramos Allup, leader of Democratic Action party, during an opposition primaries campaign rally in 2023. File photo.
Former Venezuelan Congressman Carlos Prosperi, from the Henry Ramos Allup group of the opposition Democratic Action (AD) party, declared himself independent and announced his support for President Nicolás Maduro’s re-election bid in the presidential elections of July 28. He also showed evidence of corruption by far-right opposition groups and urged the attorney general and other government authorities to investigate the theft of Venezuela’s resources by the opposition.
In last year’s far-right opposition primaries, Carlos Ecarri reached the second place, trailing María Corina Machado by a huge margin. The whole process was controversial, as it was organized by Machado’s NGO Súmate. Prosperi questioned the transparency of that process but was not supported by his party and its leader, Henry Ramos Allup.
In a press conference on Saturday, July 13, Prosperi distanced himself from far-right opposition, denouncing abuses and attacks against various critical voices in the opposition sector as a recurring practice as well as irregularities in the electoral campaign. He also condemned the opposition’s hateful and divisive language and its repeated deception of the people. “They have turned the sanctions into a business based on lies and deceit,” he said.
“Today I want to tell the people that there was not only this concerted practice of hate and division against Governor [Manuel] Rosales and me, but also there are voices trying to preach through lies the opposite of what the people of Venezuela want,” he explained.
Ustedes me conocen, saben quién soy, un hombre que siempre he trabajado por nuestra Venezuela, con sinceridad y diciéndoles las cosas como son, sin mentiras ni engaños. Hoy está en juego el destino del país, sé muy bien de lo que hablo cuando denuncio ante los medios de… pic.twitter.com/W3YO4Qnw0n
— Carlos M. Prosperi (@prospericarlos) July 13, 2024
Prosperi also commented that President Maduro is the only one who can maintain peace in Venezuela and the growth of the economy. “That is why I have made the firm decision, categorically, to give my support to President Nicolás Maduro for re-election to the Presidency of the Republic,” he explained.
“The only one who can sustain and guarantee dialogue with the parties is President Nicolás Maduro,” he said.
“President Maduro has proposed calling for a national dialogue immediately after his election,” he continued. “I support this proposal. You can count on this servant’s humble contribution to restore peace to the country through dialogue with all the people of Venezuela.”
Prosperi also asked President Maduro to convene a “national unity government” “where we can all contribute our grain of sand and restore the future and peace to each and every Venezuelan.”
He also asked Attorney General Tarek William Saab and the Venezuelan authorities and even the US government to investigate the embezzlement, damage to the nation and illicit enrichment of a far-right opposition sector.
Prosperi make his point clearer with a post published on social media: “You know me, you know who I am, a man who has always worked for our Venezuela, with sincerity and telling you things as they are, without lies or deception. Today the destiny of the country is at stake, I know very well what I am talking about when I condemn before the media the plans to destroy the peace of our Venezuelan people, to sow hatred and revenge; they [the far right] do not respect even those of us who think differently. What will be left for those who have never accompanied them? Enough of hatred, enough of using our people to get rich with the money stolen from Venezuelans. Venezuela is ready for a government of national unity, where everyone contributes to the rebirth of our country! Count on me President Maduro. The country is above everything!”
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Two opposition mayors announce support for Maduro
Opposition mayors of Samuel Dario Maldonado municipality, Táchira state, Eduardo Decrete, and of Píritu, Anzoátegui state, Jesús Méndez, announced on Friday their support for the incumbent candidate Nicolás Maduro. Both declared themselves independent and supported Maduro’s candidacy for the July 28 election, Últimas Noticias reported.
Méndez, from the opposition Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party, said that he defends voting as a tool for resolving differences. “I am surprised by the fact that, in the current circumstances, the democratic factors of the opposition are excluding many leaders who have been leading the electoral struggle in this regard and, above all, who have allowed us to have direct contact with the residents,” he said.
He stressed that he does not want the country to return to the past and to the violent or failed plans with which false hopes and expectations were sold to Venezuelans. “On the 28th of this month there will be an electoral process and I declare myself independent, and I support President Nicolás Maduro who is the only one who guarantees peace in Venezuela and will allow us to continue working for our people, for our neighbors and for our country,” he added.
Similarly, Mayor Decrete stated that he declares himself independent, “supporting my President Nicolás Maduro, for peace.”
(RedRadioVE) by Victoria Torres, with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SC
