ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES
Regional head urges change in Venezuela
The Organisation of American States bloc calls on Venezuela to hold ‘free, just and transparent’ elections as soon as possible
The head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has called on members to suspend crisis-hit Venezuela’s membership unless the government of President Nicolas Maduro held credible elections soon. On Tuesday, OAS secretary-general Luis Almagro called on Venezuela "as soon as possible" to hold "free, just and transparent" elections that could be observed by international monitors. If not, "it would be the right time to suspend Venezuela from OAS activities in accordance with article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter", Almagro said in a letter to the group’s permanent council. Venezuela has been rocked by protests as it struggles to emerge from a deep crisis under Maduro, who was elected with a razor-thin majority in 2013. The leftist regime has systematically thwarted efforts by the opposition to hold a recall referendum. Venezuela’s economic plight is largely due to falling prices for its oil exports, contributing to food shortages and economic disarray. Maduro, howeve...
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