Wife of the mayor of Maracaibo denounces harassment against workers of the Mayor’s Office

Workers of the Mayor’s Office of Maracaibo, capital of the Zulia state, live in a “climate of persecution and intimidation,” denounced this Tuesday Vanessa Linares, wife of the mayor of that city, Rafael Ramírez Colina, arrested a week ago for alleged corruption.

“In recent days, councilors, directors and career staff of the Maracaibo Mayor’s Office have experienced a regrettable climate of unlimited persecution and intimidation,” he said. Linares in a video published on X.

She maintained that it is “unacceptable” that “so many families live in a climate of anxiety and that they are not allowed to do what they want to do and have been doing” with her husband Ramírez Colina, which – she assured – is “working for a better city for everyone.” ».

“I am going to dedicate myself to fighting for the truth, which translates into fighting for the release of my husband, Rafael Ramírez Colina, who has been unjustly deprived of liberty along with his team, for whom his children are waiting at home,” she added.

Linares indicated that this fight will also be for the “integrity” of the workers of the Maracaibo Mayor’s Office, “who live under the harassment of those who act in a cowardly manner, using power to destroy what has been built with so much effort and honesty.” .

Ramírez Colina is accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of “serious irregular acts” related to corruption, while the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, accuses the opponent of delivering resources obtained through tax collection to “far-right political parties.” .

On Saturday, Linares denounced that the mayor has been prohibited from private defense, in a hearing at the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin), in which his “deprivation of liberty” was ratified.

He then added that “no one” has been able to see Ramírez Colina and it is not known “what condition he is in.”

The mayor is one of the 154 opposition politicians who, according to the opposition party María Corina Machado, Vente Venezuela, are imprisoned in the country, the majority after being apprehended in the weeks before and after the controversial re-election of Nicolás Maduro in the presidential elections of July 28, which has been questioned inside and outside the country.

In these elections, Ramírez Colina supported the candidacy of the majority opposition standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, and joined the “legitimate citizen request” that the electoral body “publish the results” disaggregated, after the complaint of “fraud” by the anti-Chavismo, which claims that Maduro was defeated in the presidential elections.

The most important thing will always be the people, because it is their dreams, needs and hopes that give meaning to our work and our commitment.

I learned that from my husband, our Mayor Rafael Ramírez Colina

The last few days, councilors, directors and staff of… pic.twitter.com/Q3rqsnGZRm

— Rafael Ramírez Colina (@RafaelRamirezC) October 8, 2024