Venezuela will distribute “wanted” posters against Andrés Pastrana and other former presidents

Venezuela will distribute “wanted” posters throughout the country against seven former Latin American presidents who expressed their intention to accompany the anti-Chavista leader Edmundo González Urrutia in his goal of being sworn in as president on January 10, when Nicolás Maduro assures that he will take office for a third six-year term in power, the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, reported this Wednesday.

The official ordered the Armed Forces and the police forces to distribute the posters against the former rulers “throughout all the streets, ports and airports.” Andres Pastrana (Colombia), Mario Abdo Benitez (Paraguay), Vicente Fox y Felipe Calderon (Mexico), Mireya Moscoso y Ernesto Pérez Balladares (Panama) and Jamil Mahuad (Ecuador).

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In the posters, which he showed during the broadcast of his weekly program on the state channel VTV, each one is designated as an “invader” and accused of “conspiracy and complicity in terrorist acts, as well as attacking the peace of Venezuela.”

He maintained that these alerts must be disseminated throughout “the entire national territory, in ports, airports, streets, checkpoints, avenues, because these are criminals,” in reference to the former presidents.

“How is it that you are going to enter a country that no one has invited you? Look, you do not enter Venezuela for one reason only: we do not want you to enter Venezuela, because this country is a sovereign country, this It is an independent country,” Cabello said.

And he added: “Now, if you want to come, we are waiting for you here, we are gladly waiting for you, don’t complain afterwards.”

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On Tuesday, the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), with a pro-government majority, declared these former presidents persona non grata, as well as Jorge Quiroga (Bolivia) and Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica), and asked that they be treated as a “foreign force.” that tries to invade” the country.

The legislators repudiated what they describe as “disastrous and interfering statements by a group of fascists, from the international extreme right, who expressed their willingness to be present in Venezuelan territory on January 10, 2025 to hinder the inauguration and due oath of office of the president.” Nicolás Maduro”.

González Urrutia, who claims victory in the July elections – in which Maduro was proclaimed the winner by the electoral body – insists that he will be sworn in as president for the next six-year presidential term, at the end of a tour he is taking through American countries.

Machado reiterates the call to protest

The anti-Chavista leader María Corina Machado reiterated this Wednesday the call to “all of Venezuela” to participate in the protest called for Thursday, the eve of the presidential inauguration, to which both the opponent Edmundo González Urrutia – whose victory he claims – and the President Nicolás Maduro assures that they will attend to be sworn in as head of state for the period 2025-2031.

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“We all know that this is over (…), now it’s time to complete the task and each one has their part, like an orchestra. Tomorrow (Thursday) we will meet in the towns and cities throughout Venezuela (…) and in hundreds of cities around the world,” said the former deputy in a video published on her social networks.

AFP

Machado, who confirmed on Tuesday that he will come out of hiding and attend the demonstration, expressed that “the time has come” for the “longed-for” reunion and asked Venezuelans for “serenity and firmness” in claiming the victory that González Urrutia claims. .

“We are a country that has three colors and that wants its three colors united, therefore, those of you who are forced to go out tomorrow with a red flannel, I tell you, come out and come with us, let’s celebrate together,” said the opponent. .

Also read: The countries that will and will not attend the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela

In his opinion, the Caribbean country is “already a swollen river that feeds on each” of its inhabitants and, in that sense, he stated that “this enormous force that has been accumulating has already reached the point where it overflows and is unstoppable.” “.