The date of Presidential elections in Venezuela will come next July 28thThe National Electoral Council (CNE) reported this Tuesday.
Current President Nicolás Maduro is expected to seek re-election in elections without strong opponents, while the opposition's favorite candidate, Maria Corina Machado, remains deactivated by decision of his government.
Elvis Amoroso, president of the CNE, said the election date, which coincides with the birthday of the late former President Hugo Chávez, was unanimously approved by the council.
Last week, that National Assembly of Venezuelawhich controls the ruling party, sent the CNE a document detailing the terms of the presidential election, but it was not signed by the party Democratic unity platformlargest opposition coalition.
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Machado, the main candidate of this coalition, however unable since June 2023 by the Maduro government Hold public office for 15 yearsreceived the support of the United States after winning the opposition primaries in October 2023 with more than 90% of the vote.
An Associated Press report said Machado's press team, when questioned about the CNE announcement, ruled out making any statements.
According to the comptroller's office, the opposition candidate participated in a corruption plot orchestrated by Juan Guaidó, who, as head of the National Assembly, appointed himself interim president in 2019. No evidence was presented against him.
At the end of January this year, Machado's disqualification was upheld by the Supreme Court. The candidate refuses to accept the decision.
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According to the schedule approved by the CNE, candidacies can be submitted between March 21 and 25 and the election campaign will run from July 4 to 25, while voters must register between March 18 and April 16.
The AP report emphasizes that the July 28 elections will allow the Maduro government to hold the elections part of the Barbados Agreementsigned with the opposition and the United States government last October, which called for the presidential election to take place in the second half of 2024.
Other points of the agreement include the development of a plan that promotes the political conditions for holding free and democratic elections, but with the disqualification of Machado and other opposition candidates, critical voices point out, among other irregularities, that the government of Nicolás Maduro has these Guarantees not yet offered.
The US government announced this at the end of January I would check the agreement And resumed some of the sanctions economic conditions imposed on the Maduro government.