María Carolina Uzcátegui, former vice president of the National Primary Commission, denounced a series of irregularities in the opposition consultation process and extolled that “the conditions are not in place to continue with the primary process,” scheduled for October 22.
“Unfortunately, 45 days after the primary process takes place, we find ourselves with a situation that indicates that there could be too many setbacks and inconveniences that do not make the primaries possible,” she said at a press conference in Caracas.
For Uzcátegui, this process only reveals particular interests and does not represent a real solution to the national situation:
“Far from representing the unification of the opposition and presenting an alternative to the country, the primaries have become a contest between particular interests,” she explained.
She noted that there are inconsistencies about the outcome of this consultation: “The country is not clear about whether there will be elected a candidate with the possibility of reaching Miraflores, or the new head of the opposition, to divert us from the democratic route,” she considered.
Regarding the electoral schedule, Uzcátegui questioned that it was designed for an automated process, that is, one that had the technical assistance of the National Electoral Council (CNE), but not for a self-managed primary with manual voting:
“Let’s start with the electoral schedule. It is designed for an automated primary. This schedule was no longer effective in achieving the goal of broad and inclusive primaries,” she revealed.
She also assured that the process as planned will not meet the expectations of Venezuelans.
“This primary process does not meet the expectations that the country requires. Suddenly they can be suspended and organized again. I still think that the primary is an ideal method for selecting a candidate, but the way it is proposed, it is not a solution,” she reflected.
“I believe that the conditions are not in place for the primaries to take place on October 22 as the country needs,” said Uzcátegui.
