Non-governmental organization Súmate directors Maria Corina Machado and Alejandro Plaz Tuesday appeared in the National Assembly following an invitation to meet with the Legislature special committee investigating their funding of the upcoming opposition primaries, but no parliamentarian was there to meet with them.

Machado and Plaz said they were denied access to the session and were told a new notice would be served Tuesday.

According to Plaz, this move is confusing, as they received two notices asking them to appear in the National Assembly. The two letters were signed by parliamentarian José Albornoz, head of the special committee.

Meanwhile, Machado said they were served no notice asking Félix Sánchez to attend an interrogation. According to Albornoz, Sánchez is Súmate's accountant. Machado claimed Sánchez does not belong to Súmate and is not in the NGO payroll.

Plaz added that he and Machado are the only persons who have the capacity to answer questions and provide information regarding Súmate funding.

He rejected the fact that the special committee intended to hold the meeting in private, and insisted that the National Assembly lacks capacity to investigate a private civil association conducting a private process such as the opposition primary elections ahead of December 3rd presidential polls.

Plaz underscored that Súmate "has nothing to hide."