“It is with great sadness that we must say goodbye for the last time to a woman of great battles,” Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro announced the death of Tibisay Lucena, who led Venezuela’s National Electoral Council for 14 years and currently serves as Minister of Higher Education.

During Lucena’s leadership, between 2006 and 2020, there have been at least 18 elections in the South American country, some of which have been deemed fraudulent by the international community and the opposition.

In 2017, she was sanctioned by the United States, along with other government officials, barring US citizens from doing business with them and freezing their assets in that area.

The same measure was taken by the European Union in 2018, which also prevented him from entering its territory.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez also spoke out in favor of the death of Lucena, whom she described as a prominent daughter of that country.

Maduro, on the other hand, posted two posts highlighting her “integrity and moral strength.”

Former President Rafael Correa, a supporter of the Venezuelan regime, also mourned the death and described her as a friend.

Lucena went to Ecuador in 2014 as part of a training course for the electronic voting system.