María Corina Machado’s disqualification threatens Venezuela’s international opening

The disqualification of María Corina Machado threatens the international start that Venezuela has experienced in recent months. This Monday, the White House gave the government of Nicolás Maduro a two-month extension to allow opposition candidates who have dropped out of the race to participate in this year’s presidential elections. Washington has also revoked one of the gold exploitation licenses signed following the agreement between Chavismo and the opposition in Barbados. This is the United States’ response to the Supreme Court’s decision to reiterate its veto against opposition candidate María Corina Machado, who won the primaries, and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

The April deadline is subject to the expiration of the package of decrees signed last November, which granted licenses to United States oil companies. This is what Washington accepted in order to get Chavismo back into talks with the opposition for an electoral solution to the Venezuelan crisis. A relief which has had little practical impact on the country’s economic situation, but which is an important first step.

Chavismo has its own interpretation of the Barbados Agreements. He opened the way for four fewer candidates during processes agreed in negotiations and blocked Machado, who led the polls, and veteran Capriles, who had already faced Maduro in the 2013 elections. The United States is not satisfied with the response and has tried to prolong negotiations by gradually withdrawing concessions. “They have to take decisions: allowing opposition parties and candidates to participate appropriately and releasing political prisoners. They have until April, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference. At the same time, the Treasury Department updated a license that covers the Venezuelan corporations of Guiana and Minervain, which control the marketing of gold and all production at mines in southern Venezuela. Operations with the state company will have to be closed before 13 February.

The rope has been pulled to the maximum to return the crisis to another standstill in Venezuela. Machado has maintained his candidacy for now. Chavismo wishes to turn the page and move forward, although it risks breaking down direct communication with Washington. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the parliament and head of the delegation negotiating with the opposition and the United States, has reiterated that the disqualification is irreversible. Venezuela has suspended election rights for Machado, whom it accuses of being part of a corruption conspiracy that arose during Juan Guaidó’s interim term, for which he had already been disqualified from running in 2021 , as part of the same file that the Comptroller’s Office opened in 2014. For alleged irregularities in her sworn declaration of assets from when she was a deputy.

In recent months of movements, Chavismo won relief from sanctions allowing oil companies around the world to re-establish business with PDVSA. He also managed to exchange businessman Alex Saab for a group of Americans and political prisoners detained in Venezuela. Saab was detained in Miami on alleged money laundering charges. It is a vital part of the government and Maduro himself has said he acted as a “special envoy” to manage supplies for Venezuela amid a financial blockade caused by sanctions. Now, when that siege may be tightened again, he is on the front lines, taking up the post of head of the Venezuelan International Investment Centre. The United States, for its part, enabled deportation flights to Venezuela as a measure to address the immigration issue, one of the most sticking points for Joe Biden, who faces re-election scrutiny this year. Will pass.

The opposition continued to face judicial assault and harassment from those in power. The government has denounced five conspiracies and files without any evidence implicating Machado’s team, and jailed several of his associates. These alleged assassination plans have served to accuse the opposition of violating the Barbados agreements, while sidelining the lead candidate of a coalition of parties that is fighting to change the government after 25 years of Chavismo. Machado has said that he is aware of talks taking place between the United States and the Maduro government. His intention to challenge the decision of the judiciary and to remain in the electoral race, in which he is so far the leader in the polls made public, tightens the rope in an issue in which Chavismo has not proven to be involved, at least for time for. Moment, ready to give.

Follow all the information from El PAÍS America Facebook And xor in our weekly newspaper,