Venezuela and Argentina in Row After Nicolas Maduro Regime Accused of Cutting Embassy's Power After Meeting With Opposition Leaders
The Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela has started yet another feud with a neighbor, this time with Argentina after Venezuelan opposition leaders met with Argentinian diplomats inside the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.
Argentina President Javier Milei slammed the Maduro regime and claimed that the Venezuelan government cut off the power for the embassy in a "deliberate action that endangers the safety of Argentine diplomatic personnel and Venezuelan citizens under protection."
According to CNN, diplomats from Argentina invited members of the Venezuelan over. In a statement, the Argentine Embassy said that they did so because of "the deterioration of the institutional situation and the acts of harassment and persecution directed against political figures in Venezuela."
Milei and Maduro have had a very contentious start to their relationship, with the Venezuelan autocrat saying that the "neo-Nazi extreme right" had won power in Argentina soon after last year's Argentinian elections concluded.
As this meeting happened, the Venezuelan government was accused of repressing the opposition as the 2024 elections in July approached. Maduro's allies in the Supreme Court have already banned his top opponent, Maria Corina Machado, forcing the opposition coalition to name Corina Yoris, a college history professor who has never held public office, as their replacement candidate.
Argentina, as well as other South American countries like Brazil and Colombia, have voiced their concerns over the fairness of the Venezuelan elections, especially with Maduro's actions in forcing the opposition to choose a relative unknown because many of the other Venezuelan opposition leaders have already been disqualified.
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Venezuela Opposition Leaders Sheltering in Argentina Embassy
As for the opposition members who attended that meeting with Argentinian diplomats in Caracas, they are now reportedly being sheltered by the Argentinian Embassy there. This was confirmed by the office of President Javier Milei.
"We have sheltered political opposition leaders in our embassy in Caracas," confirmed presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni. "We call for a solution soon."
Al Jazeera noted that the announcement from Milei's government came after the Argentinian president released a statement expressing "concern" at the "acts of harassment and persecution directed against political figures in Venezuela."
Milei also warned Maduro against "any deliberate action that endangers the safety of Argentinian diplomatic personnel or Venezuelan citizens under [the embassy's] protection" after his Venezuelan counterpart was accused of cutting off the embassy's electricity.
Venezuela Opposition Says Electoral Authorities Tried To Stop Candidate Corina Yoris From Registering
As the Venezuelan elections approach, the government's electoral authorities have now been accused of causing more shenanigans as the united opposition coalition's candidate, Corina Yoris, was about to register her candidacy.
Omar Barboz, who represents the opposition candidate, revealed on X that electoral authorities did not let Yoris register as the deadline ended on Monday night. She was able to register in the end but this incident has thrown whatever the election results may be into doubt as Maduro has been known for his election shenanigans.
READ MORE: Venezuela Elections: Three Times Nicolas Maduro Undermined Democracy During an Election Year
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate María Machado names substitute while she fights ban - AP Archive
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