Freddy Superlano Salinas (born 25 June 1976) is a Venezuelan politician, educator and engineer currently serving as a deputy for the Popular Will party in the National Assembly.[2] He is an outspoken critic of Nicolás Maduro and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). He was also a candidate for the Governor of Barinas state for the Democratic Unity Roundtable in 2017 election, which he lost to the pro-government candidate Argenis Chávez.[3]
Freddy Superlano | |
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Deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela for Barinas | |
In office 5 January 2016 – 5 January 2021 | |
President | Juan Guaidó (disputed) |
Personal details | |
Born | Freddy Superlano Salinas 25 June 1976 Barinas, Barinas, Venezuela |
Political party | Democratic Action (previously)[1] Popular Will |
Occupation | Politician, educator, engineer |
On 23 February 2019, the same day as the Venezuelan opposition attempted to get humanitarian aid to Venezuela through the Colombia–Venezuela border, Superlano and his assistant were poisoned in Cúcuta, Colombia.[4] His assistant and cousin, Carlos Salinas, subsequently died.[4] The opposition asked for an investigation, without making "claims on who the culprits were".[4]
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio called the poisoning a "grave situation".[5] Maduro-aligned state media claimed Superlano and his assistant were poisoned by prostitutes.[6][7]
In May 2019, Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered the prosecution of several National Assembly members, including Freddy Superlano, for their actions during the failed uprising.[8]