Venezuela blocks former heads of state from election: They will not be allowed into the country

A plane from Panama carrying five former heads of state who wanted to observe tomorrow's presidential election in Venezuela was not permitted to fly to the country.

According to reports in the national press, five former heads of state wanted to come to Venezuela to observe the elections at the invitation of the opposition.

The plane did not depart after authorities did not grant permission for the Panamanian aircraft carrying the former heads of state to enter Venezuela.

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha stated in a post on his social media account that the representative of the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in Panama was summoned to the ministry due to the obstruction of the flight's departure.

Acha later stated in an interview with Panamanian television that the former heads of state had disembarked from the plane and that Venezuelan Minister of Transport Ramon Celestino Velasquez had informed him that there were no obstacles to the plane departing for Venezuela again.

PANAMA, SPAIN, MEXICO...

In its announcement, the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the information that there were no issues with flights between the two countries and that the incident was being carefully analyzed.

Reports indicated that the individuals on the plane were former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, former Spanish Prime Ministers Jose Maria Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, and former Mexican Presidents Felipe Calderon and Vicente Fox.

News in the Venezuelan press reported that the National Electoral Council (CNE) had sent invitations weeks ago to officials who would serve as observers in the election, and that the former heads of state invited by the opposition were not on the list.

The people of Venezuela will head to the polls on July 28 to elect their new president.