The European Union (EU) gives loss the electoral observation mission for the presidential elections Venezuela on July 28 after the clashes with Caracas, after the National Electoral Council (CNE) withdrew the invitation to the bloc to carry out the deployment.
Several diplomatic sources confirmed to Europa Press that the sending of 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 Borrellbased on preliminary reports from an exploratory mission that visited Venezuela in April to prepare the ground.
“99% sure there will be no EU mission”notes 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 “foreseeable“Caracas’ maneuver in the face of negative polls for Nicolás Maduro’s aspirations to remain in power.
Apart from the EU, The United States has asked 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 his “deep concern” for 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 spokesperson for the bloc responded that the European restrictive measures “they 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.”
(With information from Europa Press)
