Written By Lisa Murimi
Panama has accused the Venezuelan government of preventing a flight carrying former Latin American leaders from departing to observe the upcoming presidential elections on Sunday.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino claimed on social media that Venezuela denied the plane permission to take off as long as the former leaders were on board. The Venezuelan government has rejected these allegations.
The flight included former presidents from Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Bolivia, all critics of the current Venezuelan government, who were hoping for an opposition victory. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, seeking a third consecutive term, has vowed to win “by hook or by crook.”
“The aircraft was denied permission to take off from Tocumen as long as they remain on board,” President Mulino wrote on X, referring to Panama City’s airport. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox shared a video from the airport, stating, “Nicolas Maduro has caused all Copa flights heading to Caracas and Venezuela to be suspended.”
Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha accused Venezuela of blocking its airspace to Copa Airlines for several hours, a claim denied by Venezuelan authorities.
Despite President Maduro’s earlier agreement to allow international observers, recent actions suggest otherwise. The National Electoral Council, led by government ally Elvis Amoroso, uninvited EU officials, and other international observers reported being denied entry to Venezuela.
The opposition, united behind candidate Edmundo González, hopes to unseat Maduro. Most opinion polls suggest González has an overwhelming lead, though there are concerns about the election’s fairness. Venezuela holds elections on Sunday.
