CARACAS.- The Unitary Platformthe main opposition coalition in Venezuela, made an urgent call to the authorities of the National Electoral Council (CNE) due to technical problems that have arisen in its system of accreditation of witnesses for the presidential elections to be held next Sunday, July 28.
According to the complaint, the coalition has registered more than 90,000 witnesses to ensure transparency and proper oversight of the electoral process, but has faced significant obstacles that have prevented the issuance of the necessary credentials. These technical problems are putting at risk the ability of witnesses to access voting centers and play their role in overseeing the electoral process.
Perkins Rochaspokesman for the candidate’s campaign command Edmundo Gonzalezexpressed his concern at a press conference: “We have 90,000 citizens ready to fulfill this vital responsibility. Without proper accreditation, there are serious doubts about whether the Plan República will allow them access to the voting centers.”
Rocha also called on CNE authorities to attend to a request for a meeting and resolve the technical problems that have arisen. According to him, electoral witnesses are essential to ensure the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process. The Unitary Platform maintains that it has followed all the procedures required for the registration of its witnesses, but that it now faces “serious obstacles” in completing the accreditation.
The opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez74, was chosen by the Unitary Platform to face dictator Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking his third term. The former liberal deputy Maria Corina Machadowho won the coalition primaries, could not be nominated due to a disqualification from holding public office.
Maduro, for his part, accused the opposition of trying to discredit the electoral process and of planning allegations of fraud if the expected results were not obtained.
The situation has raised concerns both nationally and internationally, as the transparency of the electoral process in Venezuela is under constant scrutiny. The CNE’s response and the resolution of the accreditation problems will be crucial to the development of elections that are shaping up to be highly contested and of great relevance to the country’s political future.
Source: With information from AFP