October 6, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

“Venezuelans have a constitutional right to choose their leaders through free, fair, and transparent elections.

“Canada condemns yesterday’s decision by the National Electoral Authority to refuse to allow the substitution of candidates, which heavily and illegally favours the Maduro regime.

“This action violates Venezuela’s electoral law and further erodes the democratic rights of the people of Venezuela. Canada will continue to stand with the people of Venezuela in the face of the Maduro regime’s descent into dictatorship.”

Quick Facts

October 5th was the deadline for the National Electoral Council (CNE) to allow political parties to substitute candidates for the regional elections as per Venezuelan law. The CNE did not grant these permissions.

Also on October 5th, Venezuela’s Supreme Court issued an interpretation confirming the law.

Canada will be hosting the next meeting of the Lima Group of countries this month in Toronto.



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Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

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