International

Venezuela installs 99 % of machines for referendum drill

Photo: @cneesvzla

November 18 |

The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela communicated this Friday that the Electoral Power has installed 99 percent of the electoral machines for the simulation of the consultative referendum in defense of the Essequibo, scheduled for this November 19.

The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, informed that the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) will be respected, in which it granted the injunction action filed to protect the right of Venezuelans to elect and protect with their vote the inalienable rights over the Essequibo Guayana.

Amoroso detailed that “80 percent of the electoral schedule presented to Venezuelan men and women has been complied with so far. Ninety-nine percent of the electoral machines have been installed for the simulation of the consultative referendum to be held on November 19”.

Likewise, he detailed that everything is ready for the fulfillment of 100 percent of the foreseen schedule, with guarantees of legal transparency, necessary for the development of the electoral process.

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“All the necessary adjustments are being made so that all the Venezuelan people may participate and know everything related to this December 3 process to defend the Venezuelan Essequibo”, added the official.

Likewise, he referred that high technology is available and explained that electoral centers will be set up in all the municipalities of the country in order to familiarize people with the process of the Consultative Referendum for the Essequibo.

In this sense, the Electoral Power will travel all over the country and will meet with political organizations and unions in order to familiarize them with this electoral process.

The President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, also informed that they received the sentence of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which declares the amparo action in favor of the referendum introduced by the National Assembly of 2020 to be admissible.

Amoro declared that the request for protection of the consultative referendum of the Essequibo of December 3, an area in dispute with Guyana for more than 100 years, was admissible.

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The TSJ ruled that “there will be no validity or legal effectiveness” in the national territory, decisions or acts carried out by persons or states that prevent or hinder the referendum to be held on December 3.

The judicial body assured that the measure was intended to protect the referendum from any foreign act or decision, while awaiting a resolution of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The TSJ summoned the Venezuelan institutions not to recognize these acts, in case they occur, and instead, ordered the CNE to continue with this process that has no binding character and does not enclose in itself an immediate change in the disputed territory of almost 160,000 square kilometers.

“To continue with the protection of the rights and interests of the Republic around this historic cause in the defense of the sovereign rights over the Essequiba Guiana, as well as its independence, freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination”, Amoros stressed.

By means of sentence 1470, the TSJ ordered the CNE to continue in its competences with the actions that guarantee the nationals the right of political participation, in the consultative referendum to be held on December 3, 2023.

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The Supreme Court orders President Nicolás Maduro to “continue with the protection of the rights and interests of the Republic regarding this historic national cause in the defense of its sovereign right over the Essequiba Guyana”, in accordance with the provisions of Article 152 of the Magna Carta.

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.