Panama has accused Venezuela of stopping a plane carrying former Latin American leaders who were supposed to observe presidential elections.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said on social media that Venezuela wouldn’t let the plane take off if the former leaders were on board. The Venezuelan government denied this.
The plane had former presidents from Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Bolivia, all critical of Venezuela’s current government.
They hoped for an opposition win in the elections. President Nicolás Maduro, who is running for a third term, said he would win “by hook or by crook.”
Mulino wrote on X that the plane couldn’t take off from Panama City’s airport with the former leaders on board. Mexico’s former president Vicente Fox posted a video saying Maduro caused all Copa flights to Venezuela to be suspended. Fox also mentioned in an interview that they were taken off the plane due to Venezuela’s pressure.
Other leaders on board included ex-presidents from Costa Rica and Bolivia, and a former vice-president of Colombia. Panama’s Foreign Minister said Venezuela blocked Copa Airlines’ flights for hours, which Venezuela denied.
Last year, Maduro allowed international observers for this election, leading to a temporary easing of US sanctions. But recently, Venezuela restricted travel across its borders to protect the election. This raised concerns about blocking international observers.
The head of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council uninvited EU officials who were to observe the vote. Officials from Colombia, Spain, and Chile also reported being denied entry at Caracas Airport.
The Spanish People’s Party president said Venezuela’s government didn’t want international observers for the election.
Maduro’s party has ruled for 25 years, but opposition activists hope to defeat him. The main opposition parties support one candidate, Edmundo González, who leads in polls but fears the vote won’t be free and fair, and the government may not accept defeat.
This news has been reported by the BBC .
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4v963pzm2o