The European Union considers lost the electoral observation mission for the presidential elections in Venezuela on July 28 after the clashes with Caracas, after the National Electoral Council (CNE) withdrew the invitation to the EU to carry out the deployment.
By europapress.es
Several diplomatic sources confirm to Europa Press that sending observers to follow the electoral process is at this point “quite unlikely”, although there is still no final decision, which is in the hands of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell. , based on preliminary reports from an exploratory mission that visited Venezuela in April to prepare the ground.
“99% sure there will be no EU mission,” says another source.
In Brussels, the Caracas maneuver is perceived as a hostile gesture to the EU presence in the country and they believe that revoking the invitation is equivalent to canceling the mission. The initiative was being finalized and was pending the administrative agreement with the authorities of the Caribbean country.
In the community capital they read this step as a “predictable” maneuver by Caracas in the face of negative polls for Nicolás Maduro’s aspirations to remain in power.
Apart from the EU, the United States has asked the Venezuelan authorities to allow the European electoral observation mission, understanding that this action goes against the commitments made in Barbados to support the integrity of the electoral process. Washington expressed its “deep concern” about the decision to withdraw the offer and asked Caracas to reverse the announcement.
The CNE announced the withdrawal of the invitation to the EU to observe the presidential elections, alleging the imposition of “unilateral” sanctions against the Venezuelan people, an accusation to which a spokesman for the bloc replied that the European restrictive measures “do not affect the Venezuelan people.” », «nor to the Venezuelan economy, including public services and goods.»
All after the EU took the step two weeks ago to temporarily withdraw a series of sanctions on leaders in Venezuela within the framework of efforts to have “inclusive and competitive” presidential elections. Specifically, he removed the president of the CNE, Elvis Amoroso, and three other members of the organization from his ‘black list’.
