Several former Latin American leaders and Spanish right-wing politicians have been stopped from observing the presidential election in Venezuela. The concern that the election will not be fair is increasing.
The incumbent president Nicolas Maduro wants to be re-elected for a third time, for six more years.
Last year, Maduro's government agreed with the opposition to hold free elections this year, and international observers would also be allowed to monitor the process. In exchange, the US would temporarily ease the sanctions against Maduro's regime.
But since then, Maduro has started to back out of the agreement, and regime-loyal authorities have stopped opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from running.
Now, people on their way to the country to observe the election have been stopped. Mexico's former president Vicente Fox and other Maduro critics on their way to Venezuela did not get further than Panama, as the plane they were on was not given permission to land in Venezuela with them on board.
Maduro's vice party leader, Diosdado Cabello, warned earlier in the week Fox and his colleagues from Colombia, Costa Rica, and Bolivia that they would be thrown out if they came.
A bad sign ahead of Sunday, said Fox on Mexican radio.
Ten people in a delegation from the Spanish former ruling party PP were detained at the airport in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, upon arrival.
