One thousand jurists from 140 countries deny the democratic validity of the Venezuelan elections

Leopoldo López, this Friday at the event held in Madrid.OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

A thousand jurists from 140 countries have presented this Friday in a ceremony held in Madrid a manifesto in which they underline the "radical nullity" of the legislative elections in Venezuela called by President Nicolás Maduro for Sunday, December 6.

The signatories are grouped in the World Jurist Association (World Jurist Association, in its name in English), a body that brings together judges, academics and lawyers, chaired by the Spanish Javier Cremades, and created during the Cold War under the auspices of the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

In the document they defend two conclusions among other theses: that the elections lack "the legal and political guarantees necessary for them to be considered free and democratic" and that the legitimacy of the National Assembly [elected in 2015] "must be preserved to guarantee the protection of human rights in the country ”.

The event, held at the headquarters of the General Council of Spanish Lawyers, was attended by the Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, a refugee in Spain for more than a month and commissioner of the Government Center of Juan Guaidó, the interim president of Venezuela recognized by more than 60 countries, which has intervened through videoconference.

Cremades stressed that Nicolás Maduro has led a "process of destruction of the rule of law" which, despite wanting to sell "an appearance of democracy", is "a true dictatorship."

Guaidó, who has been described by López as "a brave man", has accused Maduro of preferring to "ally himself with terrorism to respect the basic norms of coexistence" and has praised the resistance of Venezuelans, whom he has called to stand firm against the Chavista regime.

"It is not possible to relativize human pain today," he assured.

“It is a moment of firmness, of struggle for human rights.

Because in Venezuela free, fair and verifiable presidential and legislative elections are held ", while he has warned that Maduro's intention is to" end the hopes of the opposition "so that they are forced to go underground from the January 5.

In the same vein, López has reiterated his message that the only way out for Venezuela is to hold free elections and has appealed to the international community, which he thanked for its support, and also to Spain, so that reject the "electoral fraud" of the Maduro government as it endorses the legitimacy of an extension of the opposition National Assembly and Guaidó, self-proclaimed legitimate president in 2019. "We Venezuelans are crying out for free elections," said the leader of Popular Will that has compared these elections with those that Chavez called to elect a National Constituent Assembly in 2017 and the last presidential elections in 2018, not recognized by the majority of the international community.

“Don't leave us alone.

Accompany the people of Venezuela, ”López asked.

"This is a new stage in a long march in which we will win in the end."