Image source, Getty Images
- author, Leonardo Rocha
- role, Americas Editor
Panama has accused the Venezuelan government of blocking a flight carrying former Latin American leaders who were due to observe the presidential election on Sunday.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said on social media that Venezuela had refused to allow the plane to take off as long as the former leaders were on board, a claim the Venezuelan government denies.
The plane was carrying former presidents from Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and Bolivia, all of whom have criticized the current Venezuelan government and are said to be hoping for a victory for the opposition.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is seeking a third consecutive term, said he would win “no matter what.”
“The aircraft was denied permission to take off from Tocumen Airport with passengers still on board,” Mulino wrote to X, referring to the airport in Panama City.
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox posted a video on social media from the airport saying “Nicolas Maduro has suspended all Copa flights to Caracas and Venezuela.”
“It’s a bad sign going into Sunday,” he said in a radio interview. “We were taken off the plane because of threats and pressure from Venezuela.”
Also in attendance were Miguel Ángel Rodríguez of Costa Rica, Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia and Colombia’s former vice president, Marta Lucia Ramírez.
Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martinez Acha said Venezuela had closed its airspace to Copa for “several hours”, a claim denied by Venezuelan officials.
Maduro agreed last year to allow international observers to participate in the election, which resulted in a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions.
But last week, Venezuela issued a decree restricting cross-border movement starting on Friday, a move it said was aimed at safeguarding the election.
But a wave of similar crackdowns has raised concerns that Venezuela is blocking access for international monitors.
Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council and a government aide, did not invite EU officials who had planned to observe the vote.
Colombian officials, Spanish members of Congress and Chilean senators also reported being denied entry at Caracas airport.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of Spain’s People’s Party, said the Venezuelan government “does not want the international community to turn its scrutiny towards Venezuela this weekend.”
Maduro’s PSUV has been in power for 25 years, but opposition activists hope to oust him from office on Sunday.
Most opinion polls show Trump with a commanding lead over Maduro, but Trump fears the vote will not be free and fair and that the government may not concede defeat.
