The Executive Director of BBC's Question Time, Gavin Allen, has apologised for the false statements made by the British historian Simon Schama during a live programme recorded on the 7th of April.  In reference to the upcoming parliamentary elections in the UK, Simon Schama said that the public should use their opportunity to vote and listed a number of countries, which included Venezuela, where citizens "would give their eyes to have a real democratic verdict of the people".

In response to a complaint made by the Venezuelan Embassy in London, Gavin Allen said: "As you rightly point out, Simon Schama's comments were inaccurate and I apologise if they caused offence... he was wrong to suggest that Venezuela does not offer it's citizens a real democratic choice."

The Venezuelan Embassy also noted that Simon Schama's comments actually reflect the opposite of what is happening in Venezuela. Venezuela has enjoyed unprecedented levels of participatory democracy for more than a decade.  President Hugo Chavez has been democratically elected three times over the past 11 years, (1998, 2000, 2006).  A total of 14 elections have taken place in Venezuela in the past 11 years ranging from Presidential elections to local and parliamentary elections as well as a series of referenda.  The first ever recall referendum in Latin America was conducted in Venezuela in 2004, in which President Chavez won by 60% of the popular vote.  

All these elections have been certified as free and fair by international and impartial observers such as the European Union, the Organization of the American States, and the Carter Center.  

Press Unit of the Venezuelan Embassy in London