NEWS

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman

For IMMEDIATE Release – December 14, 2012

The People of Venezuela Deserve Fair and Transparent Elections, Ros-Lehtinen Says Venezuela’s Municipal and Gubernatorial Elections This Sunday

( WASHINGTON ) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the upcoming Venezuelan municipal and gubernatorial elections that will take place Sunday, December 16, 2012. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“Once again, the people of Venezuela are gearing up and heading to the polls to face their newest challenge in ensuring the transparency of their upcoming municipal and gubernatorial elections. Claims of manipulation of votes, coercive policies, and restrictions on freedom of speech have stained past elections, but now is the time for the Venezuelan people to show their resolve and demand a truly free democratic electoral process.

“On Sunday, December 16th, I hope that the Venezuelan people will vote in a fair and transparent manner to elect their local leaders freely without fear of reprisal from a floundering dictatorship. The Chavez regime will no doubt attempt to use these local elections to bring into power his cronies with the hope of continuing to deny the Venezuelan people their fundamental human rights and respect for separation of powers. The people of Venezuela deserve a free and democratic nation. ”

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