News Summaries in March 2024
“Mr. Maduro Is Crossing Red Lines. The U.S. Must Respond,” Washington Post Editorial, March 30, 2024 Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “is brazenly refusing to honor his agreement to allow a free and fair election this year.” As a result, President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken “have no choice but to follow through on their pledge to reimpose sanctions in the event of such behavior by Mr. Maduro.” Maduro has “contemptuously violated” the so-called Barbados agreement last October to allow opposition candidates to freely compete for the presidency by barring his most popular rival, María Corina Machado, from running. Machado’s choice to replace her, Corina Yoris, was also precluded from registering as a candidate. Machado’s representative in Washington says her life is in danger. Her staff says two of her advisors have been seized and haven’t been heard from. Other advisors have taken refuge in the Argentine embassy. “Usually cautious about criticizing th...