Venezuela's Maduro Targets Opposition Figures in Referendum Plot
Nicolás Maduro's recent maneuvers, including a referendum on the disputed territory of Essequibo with Guyana, have undermined the Barbados agreements signed between the Venezuelan opposition and the government. These agreements aimed to establish democratic guarantees for free and fair elections. Maduro's actions, such as the arrest of opposition members and the persecution of María Corina Machado and her allies, have raised concerns about the government's commitment to the agreements. The fragile agreements have also been strained by the government's heavy-handedness, including investigations against the organizers of the opposition primaries and derogatory remarks made by the head of the Chavista delegation. The signing of the agreements led to a partial lifting of oil sanctions and increased interest from international oil companies. However, the United States has demanded a procedure for the qualification of electoral candidates, which was achieved just before the given deadline. The government's actions have raised doubts about the future of the agreements and the electoral path in Venezuela.