Uruguayan opposition Partido Nacional (PN) party introduced on Monday during a session of the Mercosur Parliament the issue of Venezuelan candidates who cannot run for local elections in November, PN sources told AFP.

The initiative of PN Senator Gustavo Penadés expressed "concern" about "many Venezuelan citizens ready to compete for such positions being barred by the Comptroller General Office."

The PN is pursuing "defense of one of Mercosur substantial principles, such as safeguard of democratic institutions," as set forth in the Ushuaia's Protocol and in the charter of the bloc composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela is in the process of becoming a member.

In Venezuela, there is an attempt at "taking out of the political game some leaders who count on the people's support. Surveys show that today's ineligible candidates are the favorite to become democratic state governors and mayors in the country's major locales," said Penadés.