Senate approves hearing to hear pre-candidate for the presidency of Venezuela

Senator Sergio Moro (União-PR) celebrated, this Tuesday (4), the approval of his request for a public hearing with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition Maria Corina Machado, pre-candidate for the presidency of the neighboring country who was declared ineligible by the Comptroller General of Venezuela. The senator said that the Brazilian Parliament needs to “give voice” to the opponents of Nicolás Maduro.

“I had already submitted this request some time ago to the Security Commission [Pública]was now voted on, but he already preceded this disqualification a week ago […] It is our responsibility, as Brazilians, towards a sister country in Latin America. […] In particular, in relation to Latin America, they are countries with which we share a very similar culture and history, it is a country with which we form a border”, he said.

The request for an audience with María Corina had already been announced by the senator last weekend, stating that the government intended to “bar” the audience. Last week, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said that the concept of democracy is “relative”, in support of the political regime of Maduro.

The senator pointed out that Brazil has been one of the main destinations for Venezuelans in search of better living conditions and, therefore, Parliament cannot “turn a blind eye to Latin American dictatorships”. For Moro, it is necessary to stimulate the fight for freedom and protect the opposition.

“Hence the importance of us listening to Maria Corina Machado in this House. The Senate is committed to fundamental freedoms, and by listening to it, we will not only be able to better inform ourselves about the real situation of disrespect for freedom and rights in Venezuela, but we will also contribute, in a way, to add visibility to this leader oppositionist, which does need the protection of the international community to carry out its work and, perhaps, to be able to continue running, even if unevenly, in the elections”, added the senator.

Last Friday (30), Venezuelan deputy José Brito released a document from the Comptroller General of Venezuela, which confirmed that María Corina Machado is prevented from running for elected office for 15 years.

The body of the Chavista dictatorship claimed that Machado’s ineligibility occurred after a property investigation that pointed to acts against Venezuela’s “public ethics, administrative morality, the rule of law, peace and sovereignty”.

On Twitter, the former deputy denied the accusations and said she intended to continue running in the Venezuelan opposition primaries, which will be held in October. “Much more than useless, this alleged political ineligibility is a big mistake. This will become a real boomerang against the regime,” said María Corina at a press conference this Tuesday (4).