Original: Spanish
Given the need for transparency in the electoral process in a democracy and aware of the obligation to guarantee equal opportunity for all political forces in the elections to take place on 28 May this year in Venezuela,
the Socialist International calls for assurances that in the investigations directed against opposition governors and mayors, they have the full right to defence in order to prevent the use and abuse of power as a mechanism of political retaliation against opposition forces that offer alternatives in the electoral process.
The SI rejects any extrajudicial procedure and in particular the use of arbitrary power to remove governors and mayors from office. We advocate respect for the rule of law so that the elections in Venezuela can be democratic, transparent and non-sectarian.