VENEZUELA’S election head Tibisay Lucena held a defiant press conference in the Tunisian capital Tunis yesterday, after being banned by the EU from travelling to Europe.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) president told reporters and diplomats from around the world that the travel ban was part of an ongoing Western propaganda offensive against Venezuela, but nothing would prevent next month’s presidential elections from going ahead as planned.

The ban, which came into force in January, targets seven senior Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolas Maduro and Supreme Court president Maikel Moreno.

The EU said those sanctioned "are involved in the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law as well as in the violation of human rights."

However, Ms Lucena dismissed EU accusations as politically motivated. 

“International observers have repeatedly certified Venezuelan elections as free and fair,” she said.

“Jimmy Carter described them as the safest in the world.”

President Maduro, who is backed by a left alliance led by the governing PSUV socialist party, is facing a challenge from former Lara state governor Henri Falcon who heads a divided opposition.

Despite food shortages and hyperinflation, which the government blames on economic warfare and sanctions, the PSUV swept the board in last December’s municipal elections, taking 21 of the 23 state capitals.

Mr Maduro has vowed to continue the food distribution programme to working-class communities and he launched the new petro cryptocurrency in February to  get round sanctions and defend the value of the bolivar.