Ten Venezuelan Mayors Disqualified After Supporting Opposition Candidate

In Venezuela, ten elected mayors were barred from office for 15 years, a decision by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Thursday.

This disqualification followed the mayors’ endorsement of Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition’s consensus candidate. The affected mayors include:

Heriberto Tapia, José Carrillo, Dilcia Rojas, Keiver Peña, Servando Godoy, Wilmer Delgado, Yohanthi Domínguez, Francisco Aguilar, Iraima Vásquez, and José María Fermín.

They are from Trujillo state in the southwest Andes and Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta state. All belong to parties opposing the ruling Chavismo ideology.

The CNE website states each mayor is prohibited from holding public office under current constitutional regulations.

Heriberto Tapia, mayor of Motatán, expressed frustration on social networks, criticizing the abrupt decision.

Meanwhile, Tarek William Saab, Prosecutor General of the Chavista regime, confirmed the arrest of five opposition activists linked to Vente Venezuela and Popular Will parties.

These arrests occurred between the weekend and Monday. Some detainees are now in El Helicoide Jail in Caracas, accused of “incitement to hatred.”

Saab mentioned an opposition protest in Maiquetía, near Simón Bolívar International Airport in Vargas state.

He described how protesters forcibly entered a National Guard post, chanting for freedom.

Saab claimed this was an attempt to harm military personnel and instill fear in the local population.

He emphasized that Venezuela will not tolerate hate crimes, which are offenses committed with bias against race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, or religious belief.

Ten Venezuelan Mayors Disqualified After Supporting Opposition Candidate

Political disqualifications are common in Venezuela, targeting opposition leaders with bans on running for public office.

High-profile cases notably include María Corina Machado, who won a primary but couldn’t assume her presidential candidacy due to restrictions.

Recent bans have targeted Carlos Ocariz, the national leader of Justice First, along with Deputy Tomás Guanipa, Elías Sayegh, mayor of El Hatillo, and José Fernández, former mayor of Los Salias.

González Urrutia condemned the disqualifications and supported the persecuted leaders, asserting the growing persecution confirms Venezuela’s desire for change.

María Corina Machado also issued a statement, warning that anyone opposing this movement will be disqualified by the people.

A major rift forms as the opposition rejects a pact mandating candidates to accept the presidential election results on July 28.

This decision underscores the growing tension between the opposition and President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.

President Maduro had secured agreement from seven lesser-known candidates last Thursday.

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