The OEV urged to condemn speeches that incite violence

• The organization advocated for the use of constructive language oriented “towards the common good”

The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory (OEV) called on Saturday, July 20, to condemn any speech that “incites division or violence” during the electoral campaign for the presidential elections on July 28, which ends on July 25, and urged the use of constructive language oriented “toward the common good.”

In a statement, the NGO said that “political actors, especially representatives of the Venezuelan State, must promote public discourse and a political and social climate favorable to the development of a peaceful and participatory electoral process.”

He said that, on the eve of the elections, in which 10 candidates will compete – among them, the head of state, Nicolás Maduro – “the commitment to democratic principles, mutual respect and tolerance must prevail.”

In this regard, the NGO recalled that, with the signing of the Barbados Agreement last October, the government and the main opposition bloc – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – “undertook to reject any form of violence in the exercise of politics”, as well as to “adopt the necessary measures to guarantee security, freedom of movement and assembly for all candidates.”

It is essential that the human rights and freedoms of all citizens are respected, ensuring that each person can exercise their right to vote without fear of reprisals or intimidation,” the observatory added.

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The official language

Maduro, who is seeking a third consecutive term in power, refers to his nine opponents as “patarucos” – alluding to cowardly roosters that are no good for fighting – while he proclaims himself to be the “fine” specimen of the corral and the “only one” capable of governing, and recently called opponents “sons of their mother.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EFE/ Rayner Peña R.

In addition, the president and Chavista leaders often refer to opposition member María Corina Machado – who supports the PUD candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia – as “la sayona”, a character who, according to Venezuelan oral literature, appears in the form of a spectre and punishes unfaithful men.

The head of state has also warned on several occasions during the campaign that if he is not re-elected, the country might face a “bloodbath” and a “fratricidal civil war.”

On July 28, if we do not want Venezuela to fall into a bloodbath, into a fratricidal civil war produced by the fascists, let us guarantee the greatest success, the greatest victory in the electoral history of our people,” he said during a speech on July 16 in the La Vega parish of Caracas.

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Two days later, he said that the country would decide between “war or peace” in the presidential elections on July 28.

For his part, in May of this year, González Urrutia promised that if he wins the elections in Venezuela, a president who will not insult his political adversaries will govern.

With information from EFE

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