The former president of the Government José María Aznar has signed a statement as a member of the Freedom and Democracy Groupalong with other former leaders, calling on the international community not to recognize even the electoral process called in Venezuela for July 28 nor the results that arise “from that manipulation” of the chavista regime of Nicolás Maduro.
This is reflected in the group's text in which they also urge the community to guarantee the “return of democracy to Venezuela” and compliance with the Barbados Agreements for the United States to reimpose “all sanctions on the regime that has clearly violated the agreements.”
Freedom and Democracy Group has shown its “great concern” about the atrabiliary behavior of the dictator of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro»after calling elections on July 28, precisely the same day of Hugo Chávez's birth, «cutting off political figures as Maria Corina Machadowho obtained more than 92% in the votes in October 2023, despite all the obstructions of the regime, can participate in those elections with full guarantees,” the statement states.
For this reason, and “in the face of the repeated lack of respect for democratic principles, and the abuses of human rights, the political repression against the opposition,” the statement adds, they raise their voice so that in Venezuela “democratic and free elections are held.” », informs Ep.
«Allowing the abuses and non-compliance of the dictatorship to be imposed on the people of Venezuela would constitute the triumph of oppression and, therefore, it is necessary not to recognize either the process called for July 28, nor the results that emerge. of that manipulation,” the document concludes.
For his part, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has trusted that the presidential elections on July 28 in Venezuela will have “the democratic guarantees that Venezuelans deserve”.
At a press conference in Brasilia with the Brazilian president, Luiz Inazio Lula da SilvaSánchez recalled that Spain has been defending “the need for elections to be held” in this country and therefore “we celebrate that they have been called.”
“What we want and hope for, and what Spain is going to contribute to, is that they be celebrated with the democratic guarantees that the Venezuelan people deserve and need,” he added, after being asked if he believes precisely that the conditions are in place for this to happen. .