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In a bold move, Venezuela’s election authorities have revoked an invitation to a European Union mission to observe the upcoming presidential election, where President Nicolas Maduro seeks reelection. The National Electoral Council, led by Elvis Amoroso, cited EU economic sanctions as the reason for the cancellation, even though the EU had not yet accepted the invite.
Amoroso stated that the decision was made to show that EU representatives are not welcome in Venezuela due to the sanctions against the country. The EU, however, only has sanctions against specific individuals, not the entire government. This decision comes after the EU temporarily lifted sanctions against four officials linked to the electoral body, which was strongly rejected by Venezuela’s government.
Despite promises to improve election conditions, such as allowing international observers, the government has faced criticism for blocking opposition candidates. The upcoming election on July 28 is already under scrutiny, with tensions rising between Venezuela and the EU.
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