For Immediate Release November 19, 2021
Venezuela undertakes Mega-Elections
CARACAS, Venezuela. Venezuela undertakes Regional and Municipal elections on November 21, 2021, with one of the most diverse elections in recent years. These elections mark a historic turning point, for the first time in 15 years, the European Union will send election observers to the country. Venezuela’s hard-line opposition has broken with its election boycott and registered candidates after successful political negotiations earlier this year in Mexico with President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Five major blocks – two from the left and three on the right – are competing. Forty-two political parties are due to participate, and 70,244 candidates are registered for the electoral process.
“Over the past 20 years, Venezuela has achieved a strong participatory Democracy where the poor and working-class have a voice. This is complemented with one of the most reliable, transparent, and secure electoral processes in the world,” said Humberto de Silva, reporter and Rabble commentator.
A delegation of election observers from Canada will be in Venezuela to observe the elections. At the invitation of the Venezuelan Labour movement, these observers under the banner of Common Frontiers will independently monitor the electoral process in Venezuela. In addition to representatives of Common Frontiers, a host of multilateral bodies, including the United Nations, European Union, Carter Center, The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and the African Union, have been invited by the National Electoral Council (CNE) to accompany the electoral process.
“This will be the second election undertaken during the pandemic, and under crippling illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and Canada. Sanctions and coercive measures which inflict very serious harm to human life and health,” said Raul Burbano, Program Director at Common Frontiers.
This is the third time Common Frontiers has monitored elections in Venezuela. Upon return, the delegation will release a report about the elections.
For further information, please contact:
Raul Burbano (English/Spanish) 1 416-522-8615, burbano@rogers.com
Humberto daSilva, (English/Portuguese) 1 416 839-9550 sindicalistatv@gmail.com
Aminah Sheikh 647 850 7064, sheikhaminah85@gmail.com
