The political climate in Venezuela is tense as campaign for
the July 28th presidential election have begun.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is eyeing a third straight term.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro met with his Colombian counterpart and
has offered to mediate political peace in the country.
Now U.S. officials also met with representatives of Venezuelan president
to express concerns about the countries electoral process.
This secret meeting was held as on April 18th and
the deadline approached for the United States to decide whether
to reimpose sanctions on Venezuelan oil industry.
The Biden administration has vowed to reinstate oil sanctions that
it suspended in the month of October.
Sanctions relief was meant to incentivize Maduro to ensure that
Venezuela's July 28th vote is more competitive than previous elections.
However, Maduro government has been accused of ousting candidates from
the opposition.
The original candidate from the unitary platform,
Maria Karina Machado, has and been declared ineligible by the
Supreme Court.
The National Electoral Council refused to register her designated replacement,
Karina Yoris. The ousting of these two candidates provoked strong
global reactions,
including its from its allies Brazil and Colombia.
For all the latest news,
download the V1 app and subscribe to our YouTube channel.