麻豆约拍

Venezuela is set to go the polls in July to vote in a presidential election. This comes as the country has been beset with a spiralling economic crisis for a number of years, with people dealing with mass inflation and a younger generation leaving in their millions. Then there is the political fallout between the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition parties - both on the right and left of the political divide.

The main opposition group in the country recently found its first two choices to run against the incumbent president being declined. With concerns expressed from the likes of the US, France and Brazil that the potential of a free and fair poll is already being tainted and that a credible opposition figure must be allowed to stand in the poll.

One man who has spoken about political repression in Venezuela is opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez.

He was jailed for two years in 2015 for inciting violence at anti- government demonstrations. After a spell under house arrest he sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas and eventually fled to Spain where he now lives with his family.

He shared this thoughts on the current developments in Venezuela: "Maduro has been increasing the levels of repression and anytime that there is an electoral moment he cracks on the opposition leadership."

Mr Lopez added that "Maduro is not willing to present himself to anytime that looks like a free and fair election and that is why he has disqualified our candidate".

"More than 80% of the Venezuelan people want change".

(Photo: Governor of Zulia state Manuel Rosales, opposition candidate for Venezuela's presidential elections, gestures to supporters during a campaign event in Venezuela. Credit: EPA)

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