Opposition asks Ibero-American foreign ministries to include vote of Venezuelans abroad

Leaders of the Venezuelan opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) delivered requests to the foreign ministries of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay and Spain last week to promote the vote of Venezuelans abroad, according to a statement shared this Tuesday by the party.

The opposition movement, to which former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski belongs, indicated that it was sending "a document that highlights not only the importance of the participation of Venezuelans in exile in the 2024 elections, but also calls for the international community to endorse the fight for the exercise of a fundamental right such as voting” to seven different countries. 

7 million Venezuelans had to flee the country due to the dictatorship. No one stops being Venezuelan because they are not in Venezuela. For this reason our #E25 promotes the participation of Venezuelans abroad in the elections of 2024. #TodosLosVenezolanosContamos pic.twitter.com/ALe2VmNebe

— Primero Justicia (@Pr1meroJusticia) March 14, 2023

The following is a list of representatives who delivered the request in each country and what they had to say: 

Argentina: In Argentina, Helis Urbina, a young party leader exiled there said, “The dictator Nicolás Maduro does not want more than 7 million Venezuelans to exercise their right to vote, a right that is established in our Constitution.”

Chile: In Chile, the person in charge of delivering the message was Alejandra Rodríguez. She told officials that "the right to vote is a human right, and the Maduro regime cannot prevent us from exercising it."

Colombia: In Colombia, Eduardo Céspedes, president of the justicieros Colombia, reported that he delivered a document in that country, requesting officials to allow him to serve as an intermediary.

Mexico: In Mexico, Gabriel Hernández, the movement's representative told officials, “First Justice will be deployed in all the foreign ministries where there is a Venezuelan. We have a fundamental right, the right to vote.”  

Peru:  In Peru, Representative Marcolina Montenegro delivered the request to that country's Foreign Ministry.

Paraguay: In Paraguay, Karina López who delivered the document to the respective foreign ministry.

Spain: Carmen Caraballo delivered the request to the chancellery of Madrid, Edilmiro García and also to the city council of the Canary Islands, while Flavia Martineau addressed the Generalitat of Barcelona.

The opposition will hold its primaries on October 22 for the first time since 2012, clearing the way for choosing the opposition leader who could face dictator Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential election.