Regional group says Venezuela's move against opposition candidate ends possibility of free election

Condemnation against the government of Venezuela for its decision to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado continues to strengthen

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Condemnation of the Venezuelan government for its decision to block the presidential candidacy of an opposition leader strengthened Sunday when the Organization of American States declared the move eliminates any possibility of a free election this year.

The regional body in a statement said the decision announced Friday against María Corina Machado, as well as the recent “prosecution and political imprisonment of opponents,” was evidence the government of President Nicolás Maduro “had no intention of allowing” a clean election. That had been his commitment under a key agreement that earned him some relief from economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

“This dictatorial logic of political persecution and violation of the political rights of citizens — absolutely foreseeable and to be expected given the background of the regime — once again eliminates for Venezuela the possibility of free, fair and transparent elections,” the organization said in a statement.

Machado, a former lawmaker, won a presidential primary held in October by the faction of the opposition backed by the U.S. She secured more than 90% of the vote despite the Venezuelan government announcing a 15-year ban on her running for office just days after she formally entered the race in June.

The longtime government foe was able to participate in the primary because the election was organized by a commission independent of Venezuela’s electoral authorities. Machado insisted throughout the campaign that she never received official notification of the ban and said voters, not ruling-party loyalists, were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy.