Caracas.-The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) has called for an end to the “persecution and harassment” of those who provide equipment for political rallies, in view of the presidential elections on July 28, as well as for the freedom of movement of candidates to be guaranteed.
“For the sake of civil peace, it is necessary to stop the persecution and harassment of those who provide the necessary instruments for the rallies and freedom of movement of candidates with options other than the government option,” the CEV said in a statement published on its website.
He added that this is an “atypical” electoral process, in which there is no equal opportunity for all.
He also said that the National Electoral Council (CNE) has “particular importance” as a guarantor of a “fair process that respects the law in relation to the witnesses at the polling station, with the cards of the political organizations and the location of the voting centers established so far.”
“It is time for the government to exercise its autonomy and independence as one of the branches of government and ensure that elections are carried out in accordance with the Constitution and electoral regulations,” he added.
The CEV said that citizens have a new opportunity to make decisions through a “conscious and free” vote that will produce a “profound reform of democracy, civil society and quality of life.”
“The vote thus assumes vital importance in the current reality in which we live; only by overcoming abstentionism and political apathy will we be able to move forward in the reconstruction of the country,” he said.
Venezuela’s opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia began bringing his own food to campaign events on Wednesday to avoid new closures of establishments, following the regime sanctioned a restaurant that served him last Sunday in Cojedes (center).
“I’m leaving with my lunch to avoid situations like the one on Sunday, when they closed the restaurant (…) for having served us as kindly as they did,” said the candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the largest anti-Chavez alliance.
This case – he recalled – “is added to others that demonstrate the disrespect of power towards Venezuelans,” in reference to another 16 establishments that – according to anti-Chavez supporters – were closed or inspected in recent weeks by the Executive, following receiving González Urrutia or María Corina Machado.
Among those sanctioned are hotels and restaurants, as well as independent workers who provided services to the opposition, such as boatmen, motorcyclists, sound technicians and drivers, who, in some cases, suffered temporary detentions, prohibition of sailing or blocking of work instruments, alleging lack of documentation or records.Infobae.
#Venezuelan #Church #demanded #persecution #cease #ahead #elections #equal #opportunity
2024-07-16 09:11:11
