This Tuesday, the president of the National Assembly (AN), Jorge Rodríguez, urged the National Electoral Council (CNE) to organize and convene for three elections for this year 2025. He announced that in the first meeting of organizations and political parties with the Special Commission for the review of the norms and laws on electoral processes and political parties, in order to prepare the 2025 electoral schedule, 100% of the political spectrum attended:
“Out of 38 parties, 37 attended (…) 100% of the political spectrum of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” he said. “Who is not there? (referring to the party that did not attend) Those who want death, those who call for violence, those who ally themselves with drug traffickers who ask for invasion,» he said.
The president of Parliament indicated that in the next elections would be chosen 24 governors «including that of Guayana Esequiba», 277 deputies of the AN, 4,000 municipal councils, in addition to the mayors. «Renewal of almost all positions,» emphasized the president of the AN.
The president of the Special Commission for the Review of Electoral Norms and Laws, also assured that the elections are events that are not carried out in a short time and that a series of processes must follow in order to comply with the established schedule:
«We are not only referring to the novel forms of consultation with the people, which are also enshrined in the Constitution; Also in our Magna Carta, the periods for the election of the positions that must be renewed from time to time are established… An election is not only the day of the election, it is an electoral schedule with processes over time and a work plan that requires nominations, audits, electoral registration, printing of ballots, electoral campaign. We are in a situation that requires the analysis of the processes, three that must be done» he explained.
Likewise, Rodríguez detailed that from Parliament they have the responsibility to discuss to bring a proposal to the CNE so that the electoral body «convenes, analyzes and prepares the schedule.» In addition, he specified that the elections will be held «very soon» so it is planned to call for participation from all political sectors that have representation in the Electoral Council.
He said that there will be at least nine elections in the country in 2025:
«My intuition tells me that there will be several elections in 2025, elections very soon. We are also considering calling the four governors elected in 2021 who belong to the Venezuelan opposition,» he said.
Rodríguez pointed out that «we cannot prepare any schedule, but we can make proposals for dates (for the elections). We are giving ourselves 48 hours to implement those proposals.»
He said that 37 parties attended the meeting on Tuesday. And also were present the governor of Cojedes state, Alberto Galindo, and the governor of Barinas state, Sergio Garrido; Omar Barboza attended in representation of Manuel Rosales, and the secretary of the governor (of Nueva Esparta state) Morel Rodríguez:
«Not a single representative of the parties was missing. We declared ourselves in permanent session and from there the proposals will emerge, joint or separate elections, which is done first, the adjustments in the legal norms. We are one of the few countries that calls the parties to organize the elections, it is a factor of deepening democracy,» said Rodríguez.
On the other hand, Rodríguez, regarding the constitutional reform that will take place this year, by order of the head of State, Nicolás Maduro, commented that «all laws can be modified except for the electoral process, close to the election date.» «We are working on reforming the laws, but we have taken the long road in which we must consult with all the factors,» he concluded.