CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela says Canada is blocking its citizens living there from voting in the South American nation’s weekend presidential election.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Wednesday called Canada’s decision hostile and urged its government to reconsider.
President Nicolas Maduro seeks a second term in Sunday’s election, which Canada, the U.S. and others reject as illegitimate.
READ MORE: Venezuelan police officials suspected of involvement in prison fire that killed 68
Arreaza says Canada won’t allow voting to take place inside the Venezuelan Embassy and consulates.
- Calgary councillor seeks provincial probe into closed-door meetings after document leak
- Mark Carney meets with ‘Forever Canadian’ campaigners in Banff
- Nova Scotia to expand protections for people affected by AI-generated intimate images
- N.S. premier invites the public to build and submit their own provincial budgets
Canadian officials confirmed their decision to The Associated Press.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: Venezuelan government offers condolences 3 days after prison fire that killed 68
They say Maduro is to blame for failing to allow his people to freely express their democratic rights, such as banning the leading opposition parties from participating.
The officials say Venezuela also missed a deadline for asking to open the polling places.
Officials say more than 5,000 Venezuelans live in Canada.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.