A group headed by four ex-Latin American presidents will observe upcoming Venezuelan elections

The Initiative for Democratic Development in Spain and the Americas (IDEA) announced that it will send a group of five former presidents and vice presidents to Venezuela for the upcoming presidential elections on July 28.

The selected observers include former Mexican President Vicente Fox, former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, former Costa Rican President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, former Bolivian President Jorge Tuto Quiroga, and former Colombian Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez.

The delegation will arrive two days before the election and remain throughout the event to observe and support the Venezuelan people as they elect their president, who will take office on January 10, 2025.

The NGO released a statement which emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections:

"As firm believers in the resilient strength of sovereign popular will and the evident determination of the decisive majority of Venezuelans to achieve elections that guarantee peace and freedom for all, the former presidents offer a message of hope, solidarity, and engagement with whatever choices they make freely during this crucial moment in their history."

The news comes as a surprise given that just last week, IDEA criticized the Maduro regime for increasing repression and violating guarantees for a free and fair presidential election. These concerns included attacks on politicians from the Democratic Unity Platform:

If the paths to democracy are closed in Venezuela, the same continent will be accepting the perpetuation of elective authoritarianism that is eroding both democracy and the rule of law. This is done under the guise of protecting their people, but it ultimately leaves them subject to arbitrariness and despotism. As always, we stand by the Venezuelan people.

In addition to IDEA's concerns, a joint statement on Friday from Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay expressed apprehension about the election conditions, highlighting risks of sabotage and fraud by the Maduro regime.

The governments condemned systematic harassment and persecution of opposition leaders and supporters, including arbitrary detentions, which they view as direct violations of fundamental rights and international law.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed gratitude for the nations' support, acknowledging that the "Venezuelan people value the words of our neighboring countries that accompany us through these decisive hours in Venezuela and the region."