Anti-Chavista candidate proposes to keep the border with Colombia open during elections

The anti-Chavista candidate for the presidency of Venezuela, Daniel Ceballos, has sparked controversy by urging to keep the border with Colombia open during the upcoming elections on Sunday. In a recently released statement, Ceballos called for facilitating the passage of Venezuelans residing in the neighboring country who wish to exercise their right to vote in the elections. In response to this proposal, the Venezuelan Ministries of Defense and Interior have announced that "strict control" will be enforced at the Colombian-Venezuelan border, but have not yet suggested closing the crossing. This measure has created uncertainty amidst a tense political climate just days before the elections. Ceballos, who represents the political party Arepa Digital, stated that the border state of Táchira will be crucial in the electoral process, as a massive return of Venezuelans who wish to vote against centralism and in favor of pluralism is expected. According to his statements, opening the border would allow Venezuelans residing in Colombia to return to the country to participate in the electoral process. The candidate stated that his platform 'Come and Vote' has registered 10,000 Venezuelans located at the border with Colombia who intend to vote on August 28. For Ceballos, it is crucial to ensure that these citizens can exercise their democratic rights without obstacles or limitations. In this context, Ceballos criticized the situation of over six million Venezuelans residing abroad who will not be able to participate in the elections due to difficulties they have faced in registering in the electoral rolls. This exclusion of a significant segment of the Venezuelan population living abroad has sparked criticism and questions about transparency and inclusion in the electoral process. Ceballos' proposal has elicited mixed reactions in the public opinion, with some sectors supporting it for considering it a defense of democracy and the right to vote, and others criticizing it for potentially causing conflicts at the border and jeopardizing national security. With the elections approaching, Ceballos' request to keep the border with Colombia open poses a logistical and political challenge for Venezuelan authorities, who will have to make crucial decisions in a context of tensions and controversies. How this situation is managed will be decisive for the development of the elections and for the perception of the legitimacy of the electoral process in Venezuela and the international community.