:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/FWHWSEFBYFADZI3D5ACNCOV4EQ.jpg "Uruguay was the only country that condemned the political bans of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela at the Celac summit")
Uruguay’s Vice Foreign Minister, Nicolás Albertoni, spoke out against the Venezuelan dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro at the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Albertoni criticized the banning of María Corina Machado from competing in the 2024 presidential elections, the only country to do so at the summit.
Maduro reportedly left the venue in anger after Albertoni’s remarks, which highlighted the importance of defending democracy, institutions, and human rights in the region. Albertoni called out countries that do not uphold these values, questioning the credibility of the summit’s declaration with over 90 points discussing democracy.
The Uruguayan official urged Venezuela to return to democratic coexistence, citing the need for free and transparent elections. He condemned the arbitrary bans and arrests of political activists in Venezuela, emphasizing the importance of competition in freedom for a true democracy.
The CELAC summit also saw the presence of left-wing leaders like Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s Maduro, and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro. The event aimed to promote regional integration in a diverse region, but was noted for the absence of center or right-wing leaders.
The summit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines highlighted the ongoing challenges to democracy in the region, with Albertoni’s message resonating as a call to uphold democratic values and fair electoral processes.