1 of 1 Maduro opponent María Corina Machado ruled ineligible to play in Venezuela Photo: Ariana Cubillos/AP Maduro opponent María Corina Machado ruled ineligible to play in Venezuela Photo: Ariana Cubillos/AP
Candidates hoping to run in Venezuela’s opposition presidential election next year agreed in a debate on Wednesday that they must present a united front against the ruling party and work to boost the economy by attracting private investment.
The debate, the first between opposition candidates since 2011, took place while they awaited a decision from the country’s highest court that could suspend the October 22 race.
Venezuela’s oftendivided opposition is trying to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled the country since 2013.
While the last election in 2018 was widely condemned as rigged, especially by the United States, the opposition has so far failed to oust Maduro.
Three of the most prominent of the 14 opposition candidates, Maria Corina Machado, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, have already been banned from public office.
The primaries should give the opposition clear leadership and greater unity, said the eight candidates taking part in the debate, which was organized by nongovernmental groups and held at the Andrés Bello Catholic University.
“We need leadership that doesn’t hesitate, that confronts, that doesn’t bow to threats,” said Machado, a 55yearold former lawmaker who leads the polls for the primary.
“This is not a conventional election,” said Superlano, who warned that any candidate could be excluded. “We need a leadership that will take the fight to the end.”
However, there was disagreement on how to choose a replacement if the favored candidate is disqualified from standing.
Capriles, who ran for president twice, did not attend. He said on Monday the country needed the opposition’s unity and should not publicly express their differences.