Maduro calls election agreement with opposition 'mortally wounded'

Jan 26, 2024

Maduro frequently denounces alleged plans to overthrow him, usually pointing the finger at the same co-conspirators: the United States, the opposition, and Colombian drug traffickers.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro greets supporters during a rally in support of his government in Caracas on January 23, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

AFP .
@New Vision

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday that agreements with the opposition over the country's 2024 presidential election were "mortally wounded" after government authorities claimed to have foiled plots to assassinate him.

Arrests of more than 30 people -- both civilians and soldiers -- have been announced in recent days for supposed participation in "five alleged conspiracies" since last year, which authorities claimed were instigated by US intelligence services and the Colombian army.

Maduro frequently denounces alleged plans to overthrow him, usually pointing the finger at the same co-conspirators: the United States, the opposition, and Colombian drug traffickers.

Following the latest arrests, Maduro said Thursday that an agreement reached between the government and opposition last year in Barbados to hold free and fair elections in 2024 with observers present had been dealt a great blow.

"The Barbados agreements are mortally wounded," he said during a televised address, adding: "I declare them in intensive care, they were stabbed, they were kicked."

"I hope we can save the Barbados accords and advance the dialogue to achieve major national consensus agreements... without plans to assassinate me, assassinate us, or spread violence in the country," Maduro said.

Maduro was elected in 2018 for a second, successive term not recognized by dozens of countries and met with a barrage of sanctions.

These have been significantly eased since the government and opposition agreed to make their agreement in Barbados last year.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado meanwhile remains barred from holding public office despite winning overwhelming support in a primary vote last October.

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