Venezuela Weighs Withdrawing Invitation to EU Election Monitors

(Bloomberg) -- Venezuela could withdraw an invitation to the European Union to oversee presidential elections after the group suspended some but not all sanctions on government officials.

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“They expect us to celebrate,” National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. “With this racist, arrogant, rude, and insulting attitude from the EU, inviting an electoral mission becomes materially impossible.”

A final decision on the EU’s participation would have to be made by the electoral authority.

Read More: EU Suspends Sanctions on Venezuela Official Ahead of Election

The EU temporarily suspended sanctions against the head of Venezuela’s election authority and three former officials on Monday, in an overture designed to encourage a free and fair presidential vote.

At the same time, the EU extended other sanctions against Venezuela through Jan. 10. The regional body was among groups that have been negotiating access to Venezuela to monitor the election on July 28.

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