«My goal is that on December 6 the mission is fulfilled and on January 5 democracy returns to the forefront of the institutions,» says Indira Alfonzo, president of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela in ‘Interview’, by RT. Why did the Supreme Court have to appoint the members of the National Electoral Council if it was the competence of the National Assembly? Is the automated voting system safe? How is it audited? Why do certain politicians not want to participate?
Legislative elections will be held in Venezuela next Sunday, December 6, to which 20,720,461 voters are called to vote. Indira Alfonzo, the rector and president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), has had the responsibility of assuming electoral power after a process in which the National Assembly did not agree to choose the directive, which had to be elected by themselves to be in charge of these elections.
In accordance with the current legal system, the mandate of the legislative power is valid for five years. The last parliamentary elections were held in 2015, so this 2020 corresponds to the renewal of Parliament’s authorities for the period 2021-2026. «In that sense, the legislative branch was obliged to renew the authorities of the electoral power», says Alfonzo.
Automated, audited and rehearsed elections
The director of the CNE says that the institution she now heads was born with the 1999 Constitution and in 20 years it has been consolidated over time. In addition, the Venezuelan electoral system has a peculiarity: «It is the only one in the region and in the world that is 100% automated.» Another unique feature is that elections are rehearsed in this country. On this occasion, two drills have been carried out, both with high participation.
«The Venezuelan electoral process is audited before, during and after voting day. It is a chain of guarantee, of trust.»
The technological solution, or voting machine, used goes through 16 audits, of which nine have already been carried out to date, in which organizations for political purposes and also more than 27 international observers have participated.
All forces are «invited to participate»
Alfonzo emphasizes that «the National Electoral Council has not received any official letter, report or requirement to which it must respond due to a any violation of the parameters established for the construction for the upcoming electoral process», and that all political organizations that comply with the legal ordinance and CNE guidelines were invited to participate.
In this sense, Henrique Capriles, leader of the opposition party Power for Change, said: «First, more than 500-600 people nationwide came, participated, applied, validated themselves, then they decided to quit and it was also validated», Alfonzo recalls.
To know all the details about how the next legislative elections in Venezuela will be developed, we invite you to watch the full interview.