Venezuelan coalition opposed to Maduro rejects upcoming vote

A coalition of political parties in Venezuela led by U.S.-backed Juan Guaidó said Sunday that it won’t participate in upcoming congressional elections called by officials loyal to President Nicolás Muro.

A group of 27 opposition parties rejected Dec. 6 election as “fraud.”

vote would determine control of National Assembly led by Guaidó and only branch of Venezuela’s government that Muro doesn’t control.

“We will fight toger to choose fate of our country,” Guaidó tweeted Sunday. “w we must mobilize our majority that desires to live with dignity. Toger we’re going to beat regime!”

coalition has invited Venezuelans to unite behind a fresh push against what y call Muro’s “dictatorship.” It has also asked for international help in campaign against Muro.

Muro didn’t immediately respond Sunday to opposition’s decision, but he has said that it is important for his allies to win back control of National Assembly. He has accused opposition leers who control congress of being manipulated by United States.

Venezuela is in a political and ecomic crisis during which roughly 5 million people have fled nation in recent years. once-wealthy oil nation lacks basic goods, including a reliable supply of gasoline and a decent health care system, which is especially fragile as coronavirus surges.

opposition coalition rejected December election, citing unfair conditions orchestrated by Muro. y said 30 opposition lawmakers have been stripped of immunity guaranteed by law, while dozens more have been driven into exile and five are currently in jail.

Supreme Court — loyal to Muro — recently appointed a new elections commission, including three members who have been sanctioned by U.S. and Cana, without participation of opposition-led congress, as law requires. court also took over three leing opposition parties, appointing new leers opposition accuses of conspiring to support Muro.

Opposition leers say y will only participate in an election if re is a fairly seated election commission and qualified national and international observers overseeing all aspects of voting process.

Guaidó launched a campaign to oust Muro early last year, but socialist president still has control over military and or major institutions. Muro also has international support from Russia, China, Iran and Cuba.

It remains unclear how Guaidó, following election, would maintain his legitimacy as Venezuela’s interim president, a position he claimed under constitution in early 2019 from his position as he of National Assembly.

President Donald Trump was among first of more than 50 nations to support Guaidó. His ministration has hit Muro with stiff sanctions designed to isolate him, while Trump’s confidence in Guaidó appears to be fing.

However, Elliott Abrams, Trump’s special representative for Venezuela, said recently that U.S. continues to support Guaidó, and ministration will impose more pressure on Muro.

opposition leers denied in ir statement that y were abstaining from upcoming congressional election.

“We’re t abstaining,” statement said. “re’s abstaining when y call something that doesn’t qualify as an election.”