Mayor Diaz Voices His Concerns about Situation in Venezuela

City of Miami Mayor and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Manny Diaz, sent a letter to President George W. Bush and members of Congress Tuesday highlighting his concern for the arbitrary disqualification of 272 political candidates in Venezuela. 'The mayors of the United States view with grave concern the events occurring now in Venezuela,' said Mayor Diaz. 'It is important that we express our concern and show our support for these candidates and for democratic principles in our hemisphere.' Last June, the United States Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the summary and arbitrary disqualification of candidates without due juridical process in Venezuela, and denouncing the subjugation of the Venezuelan constitution and total disregard of separated branches of government. Since then, the disqualification of 272 otherwise eligible candidates has been upheld by the Venezuelan Supreme Court in spite of any formal charges against them.