VENEZUELA-RTRS: Gov't Could Remove Political Ban To Avoid US Sanctions

Reuters reportedearlier today that according to unnamed source the gov't of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, "may allow appeals from opposition politicians seeking to remove bans barring them from public posts to progress in court, as a way to partially comply with U.S. demands ahead of a deadline tied to loosened sanctions," This comes in the wake of the partial rollback of sanctions on the Venezuelan hydrocarbons sector and the lifting of a ban on bond trading as part of an October deal regarding the 2024 Venezuelan elections.

• The sanctions are set to kick back in from 30 Nov if the gov't has not moved to release political prisoners and Americans that the US says are 'wrongfully detained', as well as removing the public office bans. The ban currently applies to Maria Cornia Machado, who won the main opposition's presidential primary.
• Reuters: "There are ongoing deliberations within the Biden administration - which has come under pressure from Republicans to reinstate sanctions- and a decision will depend on what, if anything, Maduro does by Thursday, a Washington source said."
• The next election is due by H224 in order to take office in Jan 2025. It is widely expected that incumbent two-term President Nicolas Maduro will seek a third term in office. Despite the economic travails and lack of political freedoms in Venezuela under the far-left socialist PSUV, the prospect of increased social handouts ahead of an election due to more US money flowing into Venezuela ahead of the election could bolster Maduro's position.