In Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed concern on Thursday that a deal with the political opposition to hold elections later this year could be at risk of falling apart due to what he has described as “conspiracies” against him.
WHY IT MATTERS
Last year, Maduro’s socialist government reached an agreement with the political opposition during talks in Barbados to conduct elections sometime in the second half of this year.
The agreement prompted the United States to temporarily ease economically crippling oil sanctions on the oil-exporting country.
Venezuela has yet to lift a ban on Maria Corina Machado, the opposition’s presidential candidate.
This week, Maduro claimed that “conspiracies” against him and high-ranking government officials were dismantled last year, resulting in the arrest of nearly three dozen civilians and military personnel.
Subsequently, U.S. officials expressed “concern” over the arrests, which included members of the political opposition.
KEY QUOTES
“Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they’re in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked,” Maduro stated in a televised state broadcast.
“Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus,” he added.
WHAT’S NEXT
The government’s detention of opposition members may jeopardize the agreements and lead to the reinstatement of sanctions. The arrest of opposition figures also poses a threat to Machado’s electoral prospects, particularly after she formed an alliance on Tuesday to galvanize her campaign.
(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
