Supreme Court confirms that María Corina Machado, Maduro’s main opponent, will not be able to run for office for 15 years
The United States is reviewing its sanctions policy against Venezuela after the South American country’s Supreme Court confirmed on Friday (26.jan.2024) that María Corina Machado, Nicolás Maduro’s main opponent, will be ineligible to run for 15 years. María Corina Machado won the opposition primary elections in October 2023 to face Maduro in this year’s presidential election, which still has no date.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s decision “contradicts the commitment made by Nicolás Maduro’s representatives to organize fair presidential elections in 2024”.
The US is reviewing the suspension of sanctions agreed in October, when the US agreed to ease trade penalties on Venezuela’s oil sector in exchange for free and internationally monitored presidential elections in 2024.