Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge RodrĂguez makes statements after meeting with the electoral authorities on January 17, 2025. Photo: National Assembly of Venezuela.
The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge RodrĂguez, reported that the National Electoral Council (CNE) will convene a continuous session to draft the schedule for “the nine or ten electoral events” to be held this year.
RodrĂguez stated this on Friday, January 16. He visited the CNE headquarters to deliver a document prepared by a special commission of the National Assembly containing the proposals for the elections to be held this year, including their proposed dates.
Two parts of the proposal
RodrĂguez stated that the document is divided into two parts. The first part contains the general elements of the election, such as how to make the announcements to candidates and voters, the accreditation processes, and proposals to safeguard the votes. Meanwhile, the second part refers to the proposals made by the political parties and voters’ groups on how the elections can be held, whether they are to be held together or separately.
In this regard, he said that since last week, the Parliamentary Commission for Dialogue and Meeting with the political, social, cultural, and economic sectors has been holding a series of meetings “with all the political sectors, all of them. I am referring to the broad spectrum of political groups and voters’ organizations throughout the country to discuss the schedule for the elections of 2025.”
“We are listening to all the political sectors. We are listening to the sectors of society that would like to give their opinion on how the 2025 electoral year should be organized,” the parliamentarian said, stressing that an election is not just a date but contains several essential previous and subsequent steps.
RodrĂguez highlighted that all the political parties that took part in the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, participated in the meetings.
“These meetings have been attended by all the sectors: the 37 political organizations, including the parties from which Manuel Rosales was elected as the governor of Zulia, Alberto Galindez as the governor of Cojedes, Sergio Garrido as the governor of Barinas state, and Morel RodrĂguez as the governor of Nueva Esparta state,” he specified. “And of course, all the parties of the Great Patriotic Pole, as well as all the parties of the democratic opposition that also won votes and now have deputies in the National Assembly, participated.”
At least nine elections
RodrĂguez stated that this year, “at least nine elections will be held, and most probably ten,” including the six popular consultations, the parliamentary election, the elections for the governors of the 24 states, and the mayoral and municipal council elections.
Regarding the election of the governor of Guayana Esequiba state, he stated that the CNE will organize everything necessary for this to take place since it was so decided by the people in the consultative referendum of December 2023.
Venezuela: National Assembly Commission Reviews Proposals for 2025 Electoral Schedule
The electoral laws may be revised
The parliamentarian further stated that the electoral laws may be revised, except the Organic Law of Electoral Processes, which is “the only law that cannot be modified six months before an electoral event is called.” This law establishes the requirements for a citizen to be a candidate and is established in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
“All other laws may be reviewed and may be addressed within the framework of the political dialogue that is taking place. The Special Electoral Commission of the National Assembly is still working,” he explained.
Liberator SimĂłn BolĂvar Organic Law
RodrĂguez emphasized that all those who wish to participate in elections must respect the laws of the country, including the new ones that were recently approved.
In this regard, he said, “As a result of the barbaric and absurd situation that some people born in this country are asking for sanctions, blockade, invasions, and military interventions, the Liberator SimĂłn BolĂvar Organic Law was approved, and it has to be respected, it has to be applied, and the CNE will surely attend not only to that but also to all the laws that affect electing or being elected.”
After the delivery of the electoral proposals, the CNE has to make the corresponding evaluation to select dates and summon the other public powers to organize the electoral events.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SF
