By Admin. Updated 9:04 p.m., Saturday, July 27, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4)
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro told hundreds of international observers that the July 28 presidential elections are about peace versus fascism urging them to witness the process for themselves.
Mr. Maduro was speaking tonight (July 27) to hundreds of international observers from more than 100 countries who were invited to Venezuela to witness the electoral process. Four of the observers are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He was speaking at the Convention Centre of Bolivar Park on the eve of the presidential elections.
These elections are about peace versus fascism, Mr. Maduro said. Fascism is thought to be a far-right political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, and according to Britannica includes extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites.
He said some Western powers aligned with the country’s elite have declared fraud before the elections have taken place because they know the United Socialist Party of Venezuela has a strong chance of winning the elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maduro told Observers the country was able to detect and detain people who had entered the country illegally with the intention of usurping or preventing the elections from happening.
“This country will have elections in peace,” Mr. Maduro said.
Mr. Maduro said Venezuela’s electoral system is the safest system that exists.
More than 21 million Venezuelans will go to the polls from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday (July 28) to vote across 23 states and one insular province.
Mr. Maduro, leading the United Socialist Party of Venezuela will be rivalled by the main opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia of the Unitary Platform which is a political alliance of opposition parties in the country.
Mr. Maduro will be seeking a third consecutive term in office.
The President also disclosed that observers who came without seeking permission were denied entry.
“No one will be able to tarnish the process,” he said, noting that Western powers have been trying to usurp the electoral process.
He said the electoral system is strong and urged the international observers to witness for themselves the electoral process in action.
Mr. Maduro who has been President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela since 2013 after Hugo Chavez also noted that the country’s constitutionally established Electoral Commission will announce the results of the elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maduro spoke about how the country was able to recover, economically despite continued sanctions and aggression from the US.
He said boosting local agricultural production strengthening people’s participation in government, and enhancing security were key factors in response to “fascist” actions that sought to undermine Venezuela’s economy.
“We are not cowards, we are not weak. They have underestimated us,” Mr. Maduro said.
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