María Corina Machado calls upon Norway to demand Venezuela keep its promise to hold free elections

Opposition leader María Corina Machado asked Norway, a mediating country in the negotiations between the regime and the opposition, to maximize “diplomatic resources” to guarantee compliance with the Barbados Agreement, which establishes guarantees for “free and fair” presidential elections.

In a letter addressed to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, Machado exposes a series of “flagrant” violations of the Barbados Agreement by the Chavista regime, including his political disqualification, the arrest of eight people linked to her electoral team and the cutting of electricity in the Argentine Embassy, ​​where at least six opposition leaders are taking refuge.

“Maduro has described my party, Vente Venezuela, as a ‘terrorist organization.’

To accuse us, they have forged evidence and forced some detainees to accuse their own colleagues of false armed conspiracies,” said Machado, referring to the statements in custody of his campaign manager in the state of Barinas.

“I myself could be subject to unjustified detention,” she warned, adding that “the Venezuelan people are willing to fight” on the condition that the regime formalizes the registration of Corina Yoris, a candidate presented by Machado in view of her disqualification.

“With the solid international support we have had, achieving these elections is within our reach. There is still time to overcome the impediments and obstacles that Nicolás Maduro has imposed with the establishment of deadlines at his whim,” he added in the document, published through his X account.

Envié ayer esta carta al Sr. Primer Ministro de Noruega, @jonasgahrstore, sobre los últimos acontecimientos en Venezuela y sobre la importancia de que la comunidad internacional nos acompañe en el propósito de lograr elecciones presidenciales libres y justas este año.

Estamos a… pic.twitter.com/e2qiCpCpMr

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) April 1, 2024

The National Electoral Council (CNE), controlled by the regime, only allowed candidates to register, all men, who are on its side or who do not represent risks to Chavismo.

A group of men, called “scorpions” because they “betrayed” the unity, signed up to favor the ruling party, since they have no chance of winning and only cause the true opposition to divide.

However, the governing body did not allow Yoris to apply.

Two weeks ago, the Venezuelan opposition denounced significant obstacles to registering Machado's standard-bearer, and, in the midst of the events, the president of the CNE, Elvis Amoroso, recalled that the registered people will be investigated as part of the candidacy review process.