Four former presidents Democratic Initiative of Spain and America (IDEA) Next Wednesday they will travel to Venezuela to show solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the presidential elections scheduled for July 28.

Vincent Foxfrom Mexico; Mireya Moscosofrom Panama; Miguel Angel Rodriguezfrom Costa Rica and Jorge Tuto Quirogafrom Bolivia, and also a former vice president of Colombia Martha Lucia Ramirezwill be present on Election Day, IDEA said in a statement Saturday.

Former presidents bring a message of hope, solidarity and agreement to those (voters) who freely make decisions at such a decisive moment in their history.

IDEA, composed of more than thirty former heads of state and government of Spain and Latin America of various political and ideological persuasions, is a non-governmental organization that ensures the validity of the basic elements and fundamental components of democracy contained in the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

30 former heads of state @IDEA_Group warn of repressive atmosphere in connection with presidential elections in Venezuela, reduction of their guarantees and attacks on @MariaKorinaYa stop supporting Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia pic.twitter.com/T4sz9V6pTk

— Democratic Initiative of Spain and America. (@IDEA_Group) July 18, 2024

This Friday, former IDEA leaders warned in a statement of “growing repression” by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime against dissenting voices, with presidential elections just days away.

Maduro is seeking a third consecutive six-year term in an election on July 28 in which he faces nine candidates, including opponent Edmundo González Urrutia, who appears to be the front-runner.

EFE