Officials have been increasingly critical of the president, Nicolás Maduro, and his government for consolidating power

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The Venezuelan government is preparing to expel top diplomats from Brazil and Canada, accusing them of meddling in the country’s politics.

The national constituent assembly president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared both Brazil’s ambassador and Canada’s charge d’affaires as personas non grata, a move which does away with their diplomatic credentials.

Officials from both countries and the United States have been increasingly critical of the president, Nicolás Maduro, and his government for consolidating power and isolating opposition parties ahead of next year’s presidential election, when Maduro is expected to seek a second term.

Brazil said in a tweet from the ministry of foreign affairs that it intends to respond with equal force. The government had not yet received official notification from Venezuela.

“If confirmed, this decision demonstrates, once again, the authoritarian nature of the Nicolas Maduro administration and its lack of willingness to engage in any type of dialogue,” Brazilian officials said.

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Venezuela drew international condemnation on Wednesday when the pro-government constituent assembly effectively stripped three of the country’s most influential opposition parties of the right to participate in the presidential election.

It followed a threat by Maduro to punish the opposition groups for boycotting recent mayoral elections, protesting what they considered an unfair, rigged system run by a dictatorship. The constituent assembly passed a decree requiring the parties to reapply for legal status.

Rodriguez targeted Brazil’s ambassador, Ruy Pereira, and Canada’s charge d’affaires, Craig Kowalik. She accused Kowalik for a history of tweeting “rude and vulgar” comments about Venezuela.

The Canadian government, which has imposed sanctions on Maduro’s administration, said it would not be cowed into easing pressure on “the anti-democratic Maduro regime” in Venezuela. Canadian officials said in a statement that they have met with the United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, and the country’s international partners to discuss a strategy for restoring order in Venezuela.

“Canadians will not stand by silently as the government of Venezuela robs its people of their fundamental democratic and human rights, and denies them access to basic humanitarian needs,” said Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Natasha Nystrom. “Our resolve remains unchanged.”

The move to send home the two diplomats comes shortly after the government sparred with US envoy Todd Robinson, who arrived days before Venezuela’s measure blocking the three opposition parties.

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The US embassy in Caracas strongly rebuked the assembly’s latest decree.

“The Venezuelan government and its illegitimate national constituent assembly are inventing rules as they go,” the embassy said in a tweet. “This is not democracy. Differing political views make strong democracies.”

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government is preparing to release some 80 jailed anti-government activists.

Rodriguez told reporters the constituent assembly was recommending the detainees be given alternative punishments such as community service and compensation for victims.

Thirteen activists were later paraded in front of state TV cameras during a meeting with Rodriguez. Rights groups and foes of Maduro say authorities are unfairly holding 268 political prisoners for protesting against “dictatorship”.

The releases, albeit with alternative sentences, could inject life into stuttering political talks between the government and opposition due to resume in the Dominican Republic in early January.

