Maduro Accuses Right-Wing Groups of Sabotage; Machado Dispenses Election Day Guidelines (in Venezuela)
Wired in Caracas, Jul 18, 2024 (Our Portal)- The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, continues to issue harsh warnings about opposition violence as the country gears up for the upcoming elections on the 28th.
In a fiery rally held in Barquisimeto, Lara state, Maduro accused the right-wing opposition of desperate attempts to derail the election process. He claimed they were intent on creating chaos by targeting the electric grid, referring to a reported sabotage incident in Falcón. Governor Victor Clark shared images of the alleged damage inflicted on a local electrical substation.
Addressing his supporters, Maduro outlined his three-pronged mission: campaigning, governing, and safeguarding the country's peace before the presidential vote. He accused the right-wing opposition of colluding with imperialism, emphasizing the need to keep Venezuela at peace amid the persistent conspiracies.
After a whirlwind day of campaigning, Maduro reached Barquisimeto, his third stop of the day. He earlier visited Carora, also in Lara state, and held a large-scale assembly with trade unions in Caracas. As he sets his sights on a third term, Maduro highlighted developments in Venezuela's economy, including low inflation, economic growth, and measures to increase credit and housing access.
While Maduro remains a constant presence on the campaign trail, his main rival Edmundo González has been conspicuously absent. Far-right leader María Corina Machado, who saw her political disqualification ratified by the Supreme Court in January, has taken the helm of the hardline opposition's campaign. Machado frequently appears with a poster of González or connects with him via conference calls.
In a video released on Monday, Machado outlined instructions for opposition voters on election day. She urged supporters to vote early, register their participation, report any irregularities, and observe the public audits in selected voting centers after polls close.
Predicting the outcome of Venezuela's upcoming election remains challenging, given the inconsistent polling data. Opinion pollsters have provided varying results, with either Maduro or González holding a significant lead, according to different polls.
Dataviva recently published poll results that saw Maduro garner 55% of voting preferences, compared to 21% for his main rival. In contrast, More Consulting's study revealed González leading Maduro by 55 to 31%. However, there's been no recent data released from Datanalisis, a polling company known for its historically proven pro-opposition bias. Leaked reports suggest a narrow lead for Maduro, but this is smaller than the study's margin of error.
Voters will choose their president for the 2025-2030 term from a pool of ten candidates. Over 16,000 voting centers have been set up across the country. The elections will also be monitored by several observer missions, including teams from the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts, the Carter Center, and a UN expert panel. The Brazilian Supreme Electoral Court will send two experts to accompany Venezuela's presidential vote, reversing a previous decision to decline the invitation from Venezuela's National Electoral Council.
- The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, is not only focusing on his campaign but also on securing the panel of voting centers, as possible war-and-conflicts and political instability could arise given the country's politics and general news.
- Likewise, the opposition, led by María Corina Machado, is emphasizing the importance of securing the electoral process, instructing supporters to report any irregularities and observe public audits on election day.
- The policy-and-legislation aspect of this issue is significant, as various polling companies have provided fluctuating results, making it hard to predict the outcome of the elections.
- Amidst these uncertainties, it is possible that Venezuela's elections will be under scrutiny from various international observer missions, including those from the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts, the Carter Center, and a UN expert panel, ensuring the fairness and transparency of the election process.
