Brazil criticizes blocking of candidacies for elections in Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has strongly rejected the statement issued on Tuesday (Mar. 26) by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed concern about the electoral process in the neighboring country. According to a declaration from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, the Brazilian message contains "comments full of deep ignorance and misinformation about the political reality in Venezuela."

In a press release, the Brazilian ministry stated that Brazil is following the electoral process in Venezuela with expectation and concern.

"Brazil is prepared, along with other members of the international community, to collaborate to ensure that the election scheduled for July 28 is a firm step toward normalizing political life and bolstering democracy in Venezuela, a neighboring country and friend of Brazil. Brazil reaffirms its opposition to any form of sanctions, which, besides being illegal, only serve to isolate Venezuela and exacerbate the suffering of its people," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement reads.

The deadline for registering candidacies for the Venezuelan presidential elections ended on Monday night (25). However, the opposition coalition to the current Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, announced that it had failed to register the candidacy of philosopher and university professor Corina Yoris.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' note emphasizes that the obstacle to registering the candidacy is inconsistent with the agreements signed in October of last year in Barbados, aimed at fostering dialogue, upholding political rights, and ensuring electoral guarantees in Venezuela. Thus far, there has been no official explanation for this obstacle.

The Venezuelans consider that the Brazilian communiqué "seems to have been dictated by the US State Department." "The Venezuelan government has remained faithful to the principles that govern diplomacy and friendly relations with Brazil. Under no circumstances does it or will it issue value judgments on the political and judicial processes taking place in that country. Consequently, Venezuela has the moral authority to demand the strictest respect for the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and in our democracy—one of the most robust in the region," the Venezuelan ministry stated.