The international community reacted to the expulsion of former presidents and parliamentarians from Venezuela

• The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Chile and Costa Rica sent press releases to express their rejection of this decision by the Venezuelan authorities | Main photo: EFE

The expulsion and ban on entry to Venezuela of several parliamentarians and former presidents who were scheduled to observe the development of the presidential elections on July 28 generated a reaction from the international community.

Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez reported on July 26 that the government of President José Raúl Mulino He summoned the diplomatic representation of Venezuela in Panama to demand explanations for the decision not to allow entry to the Copa Airlines plane carrying several former Latin American presidents to Venezuela.

“Panama respects Venezuela’s internal democratic processes, but cannot allow the retention of its airline, Copa Airlines, and even more so with Panamanians on board for ethical reasons. President José Raúl Mulino will be vigorous in defending Panamanian companies and all Panamanians who are leaving or returning to our country,” said Martínez.

Photo: EFE/ Welcome Velasco

Reactions from former presidents of other countries

Former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002) expressed his opposition to the deportation of observers who were going to accompany the Venezuelan opposition during the elections on July 28.

“Nicolás Maduro has prevented the entry into Venezuela of observers from different parts of the world who wanted to enter to witness the electoral process. No criminal wants witnesses to his crime, sin frightens, and the despot trembles at the possibility that a few international observers witness the outrage he plans to commit to prevent the triumph of democracy,” wrote Pastrana.

Likewise, former Bolivian presidents Carlos Mesa (2003-2005) and Jeanine Áñez (2019-2020) expressed their solidarity with the former Latin American presidents who were unable to travel to Venezuela to attend the presidential elections because their plane was prevented from taking off from Panama.

Former interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez. EFE/ Str/Archive

Mesa expressed his solidarity with the group of former heads of state of Latin America, including Bolivian Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga (2001-2002), who were prevented from entering Venezuela by decision of the government of Nicolás Maduro.

“The decision to deny people who defend democracy entry into the country confirms the intention to commit fraud in the historic electoral process of Sunday 28th without reliable witnesses,” added the former president.

Jeanine Áñez expressed her solidarity with opposition leader María Corina Machado and said that the opposition will achieve an “overwhelming” victory. She also urged Venezuelan citizens to defend their vote.

The position of the governments of Chile, Costa Rica and the United States

On July 26, the Chilean government sent a note of protest to Venezuela for having prevented Senators Felipe Kast (center-right) and José Manuel Rojo Edwards (far-right) from entering the country, after being invited by the Venezuelan opposition as observers in the July 28 elections.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to Chile, Arévalo Méndez, to deliver a note of protest because Senators José Manuel Rojo Edwards and Felipe Kast were not allowed to enter that country,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a note of protest to the Venezuelan ambassador in Chile, Arévalo Méndez, because senators José Manuel Rojo Edwards and Felipe Kast were not allowed to enter that country.

— Chilean Foreign Ministry 🇨🇱 (@Minrel_Chile) July 27, 2024

On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica also regretted that the Venezuelan authorities prohibited several former presidents of the region, including former Costa Rican President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, from traveling to Venezuela to follow the elections.

“This measure by the Venezuelan regime deprives the process of the transparency that is required for its legitimacy at these historic milestones,” the ministry wrote in a statement.

On July 26, the United States urged President Nicolás Maduro to reconsider his decision and allow the entry into the country of the group of former presidents who were to participate as observers in the elections on July 28.

“We encourage Venezuelan authorities to reconsider their decision and allow for more international presence to observe the election, especially with these illustrious former presidents from the region,” said a senior U.S. official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.

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