“AWe support the peaceful elections that we hope will take place on Sunday, elections that we hope will reflect the will and aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a more democratic, stable and prosperous future,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council.
More than 21 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote in these presidential elections, whose electoral campaign ends today marked by a climate of great tension in the country, in the midst of an economic, social and political crisis.
The current Venezuelan head of state, Nicolás Maduro, of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), will run for the third time for another six-year term.
Maduro faces Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia (from the Democratic Unity Roundtable/MUD) at the polls, the opposition candidate that most polls place in the lead, although they are downplayed by the President’s party, claiming that they are fabricated.
At a press conference, John Kirby warned that any “political repression and violence is unacceptable” in the elections and, regardless of who wins on Sunday, he encouraged the main “candidates to peacefully commit to the results and work together for the good of all Venezuelans.”
“The reason I mentioned this is to make it clear to Mr. Maduro that we are watching closely. We are watching closely. The elections must be free and fair, without repression, without intimidation of voters and, again, regardless of who wins, our expectation is that the winner will continue to protect democratic institutions,” the spokesperson said.
During the electoral campaign, which began on July 4, around a hundred opponents were detained, according to human rights organizations. Maduro and González Urrutia have been accusing each other of preparing alleged acts of violence.
Read Also: Chavismo wants to ensure Maduro’s continuity in power in Venezuela
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Source: https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2604895/venezuela-qualquer-ato-de-repressao-nas-eleicoes-sera-inaceitavel
