A little less than a month before the primaries, the main figure of the Venezuelan opposition, María Corina Machado, has a clear lead in voting intentions, despite institutional sabotage by the government Nicolas Maduro.
According to polls, the rightwing leader has 40% of voters’ preferences and the number is rising. The preliminary candidate’s numbers are three times higher than those of the runnerup, Henrique Capriles Radonski.
María Corina Machado’s candidacy was disqualified in June by the Chavista regime, which announced the opponent’s candidacy for the next 15 years. Without discussing the reasons or validity of the disqualification, Diosdado Cabello, Chavismo’s number two, has stated several times that it will be impossible for María Corina To as a candidate, claiming that she is “deceiving her supporters”.
Despite the numerical advantage, the opposition complains that it does not have equal access to the mass media. According to political consultant Osvaldo Ramírez in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, eight out of ten Venezuelans want a change of course in the country.
+ Maduro’s government prevents opposition leader from running for president
“There is a context in which people feel disconnected from politics and the ruling party. They suggest that there could be a renewal of the opposition leadership. The traditional leadership of the unity platform is taking its toll here. “María Corina’s efforts to stand out among them have paid off,” he added.
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However, fears are growing in the country that the elections will not take place. Some civilian volunteers withdrew, citing technical problems. One of the primary electoral commission’s key figures, María Carolina Uzcátegui, has not only resigned but is now campaigning against the electoral process.
+ Venezuela bans the presence of European observers in the 2024 elections
The Unity Platform released a statement amid the attacks denouncing “the plan undertaken by Nicolás Maduro, through his various spokesmen, against the right of the Venezuelan people to elect their unity candidate through democratic elections.” Omar Barboza, executive secretary of the platform, explained that there was a “perverse plan” being orchestrated from Miraflores to weaken the will and “attract speakers” who would discredit the election.
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