Presidential Race Nears in Venezuela as Election Date Approaches on July 28th
TitBITS: The July 28, 2024 Venezuelan election heats up as opposition forces band together behind Edmundo González Urrutia, a seasoned diplomat, aiming to oust the incumbent, Nicolás Maduro.
In the bustling scene of political maneuvers, Tuesday saw the US-backed Venezuelan opposition unite behind a single candidate – Edmundo González Urrutia. This decision comes after the opposition party A New Era (UNT) announced its support for González, chosen by the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), in the upcoming showdown.
Manuel Rosales, UNT’s leader who had previously registered as a candidate, bowed out of the race last week, endorsing González. Rosales, who lost to former President Hugo Chávez in 2006, pledged his support for a unity candidate after filing his own nomination at the last minute.
Remember, González is no greenhorn in the game of politics. Having served as a career diplomat, the 74-year-old diplomat stepped into the political arena after being put forward by the anti-government forces. He was appointed as ambassador to Argentina in his former life, but his tenure came to an end in 2002 after he supported a coup against Chávez.
However, González’s road to the presidential seat isn't all smooth sailing. He's faced controversy after a purported leaked phone call from 2015 surfaced, where he is heard making misogynistic and racist comments.
And, it’s not just leftist hardliners who are throwing their hats in the ring. Far-right candidate María Corina Machado, who has been banned from politics over corruption allegations, endorsed González. Machado, who's no stranger to election rows, vowed to stay in the race until the end, hoping that Washington's threats of further economic coercive measures would force her into the ballot.
Meanwhile, presumptive frontrunner Maduro and his allies from the United Socialist Party (PSUV) remain confident in their chances of emerging victorious. Maduro pledged that the Venezuelan people would give the “fascist right” a lesson to remember during an international summit.
Behind the scenes, judicial shenanigans continue. The Venezuelan Comptroller’s Office disqualified several high-ranking party members from holding public office for 15 years, including former Petare Mayor Carlos Ocariz, former National Assembly Deputy Tomás Guanipa, and current El Hatillo mayor Elias Sayegh. Critics of the disqualifications are raising their voices, questioning the motives behind the actions.
Amidst the twists and turns, González and Maduro are gearing up for one of the most hotly-contested political battles in recent Venezuelan history. Stay tuned as the race thickens!
In the wake of the upcoming Venezuelan election, the US-backed opposition's unity behind Edmundo González Urrutia, a seasoned diplomat, signals a significant shift in policy-and-legislation and politics. This unity, however, comes amidst controversy over González's past comments, creating complexities in the general-news landscape, as war-and-conflicts and migration issues continue to loom large.
