EU representatives arrived in Venezuela to study the possibility of sending an official election-observation mission to the country during gubernatorial and mayoral elections in November. Such a mission has long been sought by Venezuela’s opposition (Bloomberg)
Venezuela Permits Opposition Coalition in Upcoming Elections
The country will allow a coalition of opposition parties to run in upcoming elections, lifting a ban from 2018 (Reuters)
U.S. Willing to Review Venezuela Sanctions, With Conditions
The United States, Canada, and the European Union said in a joint statement that they are willing to review sanctions on Venezuela’s government if there are “substantive, credible advancements” in talks to restore democracy in the country (Bloomberg)
Donors Pledge $1.5 Billion for Venezuelans
Donors including more than thirty countries and two development banks pledged over $1.5 billion in aid for Venezuelan migrants, their host countries, and vulnerable Venezuelans who have not migrated (Reuters)
Venezuela, World Food Program Reach School Meal Deal
The UN World Food Program said it reached an agreement with President Nicolas Maduro’s government to provide daily school meals for 185,000 children by the end of the year. One-third of Venezuelans are food insecure (Voice of America)
Venezuela to Ask UN to Help Remove Landmines
Officials will ask for UN assistance in removing landmines near the country’s border with Colombia, President Nicolas Maduro announced. Last week, two soldiers were killed by a landmine while conducting military operations against armed groups, Maduro’s government said (Reuters)
Venezuelan Soldiers Killed By Land Mine
The Defense Ministry announced that two soldiers were killed by a land mine as Venezuela continues an offensive against armed groups along its border with Colombia. Thousands of people have been displaced by the conflict (Reuters)
Human Rights Groups Call for UN Envoy at Venezuela and Colombia Border
Human rights groups called for the UN special envoy to resolve a border crisis caused by clashes between Venezuelan troops and Colombian armed groups. Four thousand people have fled the border area since March 21, with some alleging Venezuelan troops murdered civilians (Reuters)
Maduro Government Lashes Out at Facebook
Venezuela’s information ministry alleged “digital totalitarianism” after social media giant Facebook froze President Nicolas Maduro’s page for thirty days. Facebook said Maduro violated its rules against sharing misinformation about the coronavirus (Al Jazeera)
Venezuela’s Maduro Pushes for Digital Payments Amid Cash Shortage
President Nicolas Maduro is pushing banks to adopt digital payment systems amidst cash shortages. Only 2 percent of the country’s money supply is currently in circulation (Reuters)
UN Investigates Unlawful Killings in Venezuela
United Nations Human Rights experts said today that they are investigating two hundred killings allegedly committed by Venezuelan police so far this year (Reuters)
U.S. Grants Venezuelans Temporary Legal Residency
The Biden administration announced that Venezuelans already in the United States are eligible to apply for temporary protected status (TPS), which will allow them to live and work in the country for eighteen months. It will also review U.S. sanctions on Venezuela (Washington Post)
U.S. Commits to Reestablishing Democracy in Venezuela
Secretary of State Blinken told Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido that the United States is working with allies to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government and facilitate a power transition, the U.S. State Department said. The United States recognizes Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president (Miami Herald)
Venezuelan Court to Begin Trial of U.S. Citizen
A court ordered that a trial begin for Matthew Heath, a U.S. citizen arrested in September, Heath’s lawyer said. Heath, who Venezuelan officials allege is a U.S. spy, faces terrorism and arms-trafficking charges. The U.S. State Department urged a fair trial and condemned President Nicolas Maduro’s authoritarianism (Al Jazeera)
Venezuela Expels Head of EU Delegation Following Sanctions
Venezuela gave the head of the European Union’s delegation seventy-two hours to leave the country, following this week’s new round of EU sanctions on Venezuelan officials (Reuters)
EU Moves to Counter Authoritarianism in Venezuela
The European Union sanctioned nineteen Venezuelan officials over December legislative elections that the bloc says were undemocratic. EU foreign ministers have blacklisted fifty-five Venezuelans in total (MercoPress)
Maduro Alleges Disparity Between Private, Public Treatment by Trump Administration
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that his regime had “heaps of contacts” with the administration of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and that Trump-era exchanges were congenial. The Trump administration levied sanctions on Venezuela and publicly sought to force Maduro from office (Latin American Herald Tribune)
Venezuela Opposition Leader Asks EU for More Support
Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez praised the EU’s backing of Venezuela’s opposition but contrasted its “declarative support” with material aid President Nicolas Maduro receives from countries such as China, Iran, and Russia. Lopez urged “very clear,” cohesive EU support to oust Maduro (Latin American Herald Tribune)
Colombia Grants Protections to Venezuelan Migrants, Refugees
Colombian President Ivan Duque announced that his country will grant ten-year protected immigration status to eligible undocumented Venezuelan migrants and refugees living there. More than half of the 1.7 million Venezuelans believed to be in Colombia are there illegally (BBC)
Trump Administration Takes Final Actions on Venezuela
Trump signed an executive order deferring the deportations of more than 145,000 Venezuelans for eighteen months. His administration also announced sanctions on several business entities and individuals accused of helping Venezuela’s state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), evade earlier U.S. sanctions (Associated Press)
EU Stops Recognizing Venezuela’s Guaido
The EU revoked its recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president. Guaido lost his title as head of Venezuela’s National Assembly after allies of President Nicolas Maduro gained control of the body in December elections that observers condemned as fraudulent (Financial Times)
Maduro Allies Retake Control of Venezuela’s National Assembly
A new National Assembly dominated by members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) who are loyal to President Nicolas Maduro was installed yesterday. Allies of Maduro retook control of what was widely seen as the country’s last democratic institution after claiming victory in December elections that the opposition and international observers decried as fraudulent (Miami Herald)
Venezuela’s Oil Exports Lowest in Decades
The country’s oil exports plunged in 2020 as the United States imposed strict sanctions, sinking to levels not seen since the 1940s, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon and state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) (Reuters)
Venezuela’s Maduro: Legislature’s Term Extension Is Unconstitutional
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the opposition-controlled National Assembly’s move to extend its current session is unconstitutional and called on the judiciary to step in. The legislature extended its term after Maduro’s allies won a majority in an election earlier this month that was largely boycotted by the opposition (Reuters)
Venezuelan Legislature Extends Its Term After Disputed Vote
Venezuela’s opposition-held National Assembly voted to extend its term after President Nicolas Maduro’s allies won an overwhelming majority in an election earlier this month that was mostly boycotted by the opposition. The term extension will allow opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom the United States and dozens of other countries recognize as Venezuela’s interim president, to remain speaker (Reuters)