The US evaluates sanctions against Venezuela after the supreme court ratified Machado’s disqualification

2024-01-27 17:18:39

Washington had announced last year a relaxation of measures against Caracas in the oil and gas sectors, but “now reviews” its sanctions policy “in light of this fact” and others that target “democratic opposition candidates and society.” civil,” said spokesman Matthew Miller.

For the United States, the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which disqualifies the “victorious” candidate from the opposition’s democratic primaries, contradicts the commitment assumed by the representatives of (President) Nicolás Maduro to organize an equitable presidential election in 2024″.

The spokesperson highlighted that Machado “was not notified of the allegations against her and did not have the opportunity to respond.”

“This very worrying decision contradicts the commitments assumed by Maduro and his representatives within the framework of the Barbados agreement, which established an electoral roadmap and allowed all parties to choose their candidates for the presidential election,” the State Department said.

The supreme court of Venezuela ratified on Friday a political disqualification against Machado, who was elected in primaries as the opposition candidate to face Maduro in the presidential elections that should be held in the second semester.

The TSJ made the decision within a mechanism created under pressure from the United States so that disqualified persons who “aspire to run” for the presidential elections could challenge the sanctions against them.

Earlier, the TSJ also ratified the disqualification of Henrique Capriles, who faced former President Hugo Chávez in 2012 and a year later against Maduro.

Political disqualifications are an old weapon of Chavismo to get its rivals out of the way. They are imposed by the Comptroller’s Office, empowered by law to take measures against officials under investigation, although the Constitution establishes that only a “definitely firm” judicial ruling prevents aspiring to the presidency.