For Venezuela, Election Monitoring With a Wink and a Nod

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has never been a fan of international election monitors. In 2004, during the tempestuous lead-up to an unsuccessful recall referendum against his iconic predecessor Hugo Chávez, Maduro (then a little-known lawmaker) warned foreign observers that they would have to “respect” national electoral authorities or else face deportation. “We cannot accept any more abuse from these people who come here with the impunity of the observer only to flout the rules and laws of this country,” he told his colleagues in parliament. “Nobody should be able to disrespect our laws.”More…