Venezuela invites UN, EU observers to monitor upcoming polls

Venezuela has invited observers from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.

According to reports, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Wednesday that invitation letters had been sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell to send observers.

In the letters, sent on Tuesday, Caracas outlined “the broad electoral guarantees agreed for the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

The development came just a day after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pardoned over 100 legislators and associates of US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido to promote national reconciliation ahead of the congressional elections in December.

On Tuesday, Borrell called the pardoning of for the opposition figures “good news” and described it as a crucial move in advancing “in the organization of free, inclusive and transparent elections.”

UN human rights Chief Michelle Bachelet also welcomed the move on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, some key Venezuelan opposition figures who had previously boycotted the parliamentary elections are in talks with the Venezuelan government to run in the polls.

SS