- In 2021, the then Argentine president, Peronist Alberto Fernández (2019-2023), decided to withdraw his country from the action brought before the international court.
On Friday, July 19, Argentina informed the International Criminal Court (ICC) of its decision to rejoin the complaint once morest Venezuela before that court filed in 2018 by several countries and from which it had withdrawn in 2021.
“On today’s date, the Argentine Republic informed the International Criminal Court of its decision to rejoin the referral made in 2018 on the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, from which it had withdrawn in 2021,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry reported in a statement.
Javier Milei’s Executive argued that “this decision is consistent with the actions and statements that the Argentine government has been adopting since December 10, 2023 in response to the deterioration of the political and human rights situation in Venezuela.”
“The Argentine Republic will continue to strive for the restoration of the rule of law and the defence of the principles of freedom and democracy in that country,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry added in a statement.
Withdrawal of the lawsuit
In 2018, when Argentina was governed by the conservative Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), the South American country, together with Canada, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru, asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the Venezuelan government for the alleged commission of crimes once morest humanity.
But in 2021, the then Argentine president, Peronist Alberto Fernández (2019-2023), decided to withdraw his country from the action brought before the international court.
The decision announced on Friday by Milei’s government was welcomed by Venezuelan Elisa Trotta, secretary general of the Argentine Forum for the Defense of Democracy (FADD).
“We thank the Foreign Ministry and the entire government of President Javier Milei for their constant support for the democratic cause of Venezuela. In February of this year, when we met with Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, we discussed this and they have fulfilled their promise,” said Trotta.
The activist denounced that “the Maduro dictatorship persecutes, kidnaps, tortures and kills and the international community cannot look the other way”, which is why “the investigation that is progressing in the International Criminal Court for crimes once morest humanity, committed at least since 2014, is so important”.
The decision taken by Milei’s government comes amid growing tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a tense political scenario in Venezuela ahead of the July 28 elections.
Insults once morest Milei
On Thursday, July 18, during a campaign event, Maduro spoke of an alleged plan to suspend the elections in the country.
“They want a catastrophe, a tragedy to shout ‘suspend the elections’. And the gringos would come out, that bastard Milei would come out, (Ecuadorian President Daniel) Noboa would come out, the right. We are prepared, nerves of steel, calm and sanity, and rain, thunder or lightning, on July 28 there will be presidential elections in Venezuela,” said Maduro.
Asked regarding these statements at a press conference on Friday, Argentine presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said that Maduro’s comments do not merit any analysis because they come from a “dictator” who “has distorted ethical and moral values.”
“What Maduro might say, what a dictator might say, what an idiot like Maduro might say, the truth is that it doesn’t concern us,” Adorni commented.
At Thursday’s event, Maduro warned that “if they do not want Venezuela to fall into a bloodbath, into a fratricidal civil war produced by the fascists,” the next elections must guarantee “the greatest success, the greatest victory in the electoral history” of Venezuela.
In this context, Milei’s government has demanded that the electoral process and its results be respected.
“We appeal to the Venezuelan people to respect their wishes,” Adorni said.
On July 28, Venezuela will hold presidential elections in which ten candidates will compete, including Maduro himself, who is seeking a third six-year term in power.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-20 09:18:56
