More than a month before the presidential elections in Venezuela, on July 28, the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) issued his 5th message to the countryin relation to the political and social crisis unleashed after the Venezuelan electoral body, controlled by Chavismo, designated Nicolás Maduro as president-elect.
The result of the election was also ratified by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which exempted the electoral body from its responsibility to publish the total results of the elections – broken down polling station by polling station – as provided for in the laws. and how various actors inside and outside the country have demanded.
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“This fact is contrary to the democratic values guaranteed by the Constitution. Ignoring popular sovereignty manifested through voting is morally unacceptablesince it seriously deviates from truth and justice. The truth, even if it wants to be hidden, or reduced to the opinion of a few, is imposed (cf. Mc 4:22)”, the bishops declared this September 3.
Likewise, the episcopate denounced the “campaign of repression and persecution” promoted by the State security agencies, which has left thousands of citizens detained “among whom are many minors, who are “it intends to accuse, without complying with due process, very serious crimes.”
They continue to specify that Chavista persecution has been especially severe with the opposition’s electoral witnesses, journalists and Edmundo González Urrutia, whom the bishops refer to as “the candidate with the highest number of votes”. This, they claim, clearly contradicts “the principles of political plurality and independence of public powers guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.”
This week, the Attorney General’s Office issued an arrest warrant against González Urrutia —as reported by the BBC—, who is in hiding after July 28.
“These events have generated a climate of unrest and anxiety in large sectors of the population that does nothing to contribute to healthy citizen coexistence. On the contrary, they seriously hinder the overcoming, with the collaboration of all, of the great problems and needs that affect us as a nation,” concluded the CEV.
Andres Henriquez
I have been a writer for ACI Prensa and a correspondent for EWTN since 2023. Since then, I have covered events in the Catholic Church in Venezuela and Latin America. I have more than 5 years of experience in bilingual media. Additionally, in Venezuela I have worked with non-governmental organizations in favor of freedom and respect for human rights in the country. I have been a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.