By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

In a joint statement on Saturday, the U.S. government, along with nearly 30 conservative world leaders, expressed condemnation for the decision made by Venezuela’s highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado. The Biden administration, however, has not committed to reimposing economic sanctions on Venezuela but stated that it is currently reviewing its Venezuela sanctions policy.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in a statement, said, “The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society.”

María Corina Machado emerged victorious in the presidential primary held in October, backed by the U.S.-supported faction of the opposition. Despite a 15-year ban announced by the Venezuelan government just days after her formal entry into the race in June, Machado secured over 90% of the vote. The ban, based on alleged fraud and tax violations, accuses Machado of seeking economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice upheld the ban on Friday, leading to criticism from the U.S. and the international community. The ruling, based on alleged fraud and tax violations, came more than three months after an agreement was reached between President Nicolás Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition to ensure a fair election, inviting international observers and creating an appeal process for banned candidates.

Miller emphasized that the recent decision contradicts the commitments made under the October agreement, stating that Machado was not provided with a copy of the allegations against her and was not allowed to respond.

Gerardo Blyde, chief negotiator for the opposition group known as the Unitary Platform, called on international support from leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron, Brazil’s Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, who have endorsed the negotiation process. Blyde argued that the court’s ruling violates the Barbados accord and urged Maduro’s allies to reverse the decision, citing a violation of due process.

Hector Rodríguez, a governor and member of Maduro’s negotiating delegation, maintained that Venezuela’s government has followed the terms of the accord and intends to hold the presidential election this year. He dismissed the court’s decision as a resolved matter and emphasized the government’s commitment to moving forward.

While the opposition’s candidate remains uncertain, Maduro seeks a further six years in office, aiming to continue his presidency marked by political, social, and economic challenges. The international NGO Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas affirmed Machado as the legitimate representative of the Venezuelan opposition and its presidential candidate before the global community. Approximately 30 world leaders from Spain and Latin America, including former Presidents Iván Duque of Colombia, Mauricio Macri of Argentina, and Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón of Mexico, signed a statement condemning Maduro’s government for undermining democracy’s essential elements and components.