“It is very important that [Nicolas] Maduro’s regime would recognize and respect the right of all candidates to run,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
Venezuelan President Maduro officially registered his candidacy for the July elections on Monday, but the main opposition bloc was not allowed to register its candidate.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado easily won the primary last year, with some polls showing her support at around 72 percent. Venezuelans.
However, courts loyal to the president banned 56-year-old MC Machado from holding public office for 15 years. She has been accused of corruption, but many see the charges as trumped up to punish her for supporting Western sanctions against the government.
MC Machado still campaigned, and on Friday nominated 80-year-old university professor C. Yoris to replace him.
However, the main opposition coalition Democratic United Platform (PUD) announced that it was not allowed to field its own candidate.
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2024-03-30 00:58:36