Far-right groups are sending mercenaries to Venezuela to complicate the situation in the country before the parliamentary and regional elections.
This was stated by the country's President Nicolas Maduro at a rally of thousands of people that ended the election campaign.
“Fascist groups sent mercenaries and today we captured more than 50 of them who intended to provoke a wave of violence in the country“, Maduro said. He congratulated the armed forces and the police for the implementation of “Operation Republic“ to ensure peace and security during the preparation and holding of the elections.
“Peace and victory must be guaranteed to the last voter“ in Sunday's elections, Maduro stressed.
On May 25, Venezuela will hold parliamentary, gubernatorial, local and legislative elections. 54 parties, political and social movements and organizations have nominated candidates for the elections.
In Venezuela, there are 21.5 million registered citizens with the right to vote, who will elect 285 deputies to the National Assembly (parliament), 24 governors and 260 deputies to the legislative councils. For the first time, elections will be held in the territory disputed with Guyana, where the 24th state of the Bolivarian Republic was formed in April 2024.