Venezuela Reiterates Invitation to UN and European Union to be Observers in December Parliamentary Elections – Opposition Leader Applauds
Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jorge Arreaza, reported this Wednesday that they reiterated the invitation to the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to “participate as observers” in the parliamentary elections of the South American country, scheduled for next December 6.
The chancellor explained that the invitation was made through a letter sent to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres and the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell.
The letter also provides details “on the broad electoral guarantees agreed for the upcoming parliamentary election.”
TRANSLATION: I inform that we sent yesterday to @antonioguterres and @JosepBorrellF a letter about the wide electoral warranties for upcoming parliamentary elections and reiterating our invitation for the United Nations and European Union to come as observers https://t.co/C19Kevn3D4
— Orinoco Tribune (@OrinocoTribune) September 2, 2020
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had already extended the invitation to these organizations to observe the elections last January and reiterated it on July 28, during a video-conference on the occasion of the 30 years anniversary of the Sao Paulo Forum.
Chancellor Arreaza made public the letters using his twitter account. The three page letter sent to UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres can be seen in the tweet.
Comparto la carta que le enviamos a @antonioguterres y a @JosepBorrellF. Allí están descritas las amplias garantías para las elecciones parlamentarias y la confirmación de la invitación a la #ONU y la #UE para el acompañamiento y observación electoral en diciembre. pic.twitter.com/HqxTQ6h94N
— Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) September 2, 2020
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On August 11, Borrel ruled out the EU sending a mission to Venezuela, considering that -according to him- this country does not meet “the conditions for a transparent, free and equitable electoral process.”
On December 6, Venezuelans are summoned to the polls to renew all seats in the National Assembly, which will legislate for the next five-year parliamentary term. 107 political parties and organizations are allowed and currently are presenting their candidates to the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Anti-chavista support
The move was applauded by Venezuelan opposition leaders, who said that it was one of the guarantees requested by them in the National Dialogue Table.
https://twitter.com/TimoteoZambrano/status/1301221252623982593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1301221252623982593%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fultimasnoticias.com.ve%2Fnoticias%2Fpolitica%2Fvenezuela-invito-a-la-onu-y-ue-a-participar-en-las-parlamentarias%2F
The deputy to the National Assembly for the opposition, Timoteo Zambrano, said that the invitation was within the framework of the agreements signed in the National Dialogue Table on September 16th, 2019.
https://twitter.com/LuisParraVe/status/1301229080415809538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1301229081950855168%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fultimasnoticias.com.ve%2Fnoticias%2Fpolitica%2Fvenezuela-invito-a-la-onu-y-ue-a-participar-en-las-parlamentarias%2F
Luis Parra from Primero Justicia, president of the National Assembly, described it as a positive step to guarantee transparency on the electoral issue. He added that they have formally requested the presence of observers (from international bodies such as the UN, EU and OAS) from the executive and electoral branch.
Featured image: Foreign Affairs Minister of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza. Andrew Kelly / Reuters.
(Actualidad RT) with OT content
Translation and edition: OT/JRE/EF
