Urged Abstention from Regional Elections by Venezuela's Opposition
New Article:
Host AILSA CHANG sets the stage for an explosive political situation in Venezuela, where the leader of the opposition is urging boycotts of regional elections this month. But opposition figure Maria Corina Machado's call for a boycott is dividing the party, even one of Venezuela's most powerful political families – the Guanipas.
(CHEERING)
John Otis arrives on the scene as turnout was massive in Venezuela's presidential election last July. Despite opposition leader Maria Corina Machado being banned from running, her stand-in candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won by a landslide. However, President Maduro refused to give up power, with Gonzalez fleeing overseas and Machado going into hiding.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
Machado is now urging Venezuelans, through videos on social media, to stay home during elections for the National Assembly and state governors on May 25. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) She's adamant that taking part in another round of voting would legitimize Maduro's regime, as long as he refuses to acknowledge the opposition's victory in last year's election.
One politician endorsing the boycott is Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former opposition congressman, who warns Venezuelans may end up in jail if they vote for the opposition. The Guanipa family has already paid a heavy price for their involvement in politics. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
Fearing arrest, Juan Pablo Guanipa has gone into hiding. His brother, Pedro Guanipa, who worked for the opposition mayor in the city of Maracaibo, was detained in September. In a video from prison, Pedro Guanipa claims he was forced to confess to corruption charges. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
Pedro Guanipa's wife, Caroll Figueredo, still plans to vote in this month's elections. Although they remain divided over the boycott strategy, opposition politicians such as Figueredo argue that past boycotts have surrendered power to the Maduro regime. Tomas Guanipa, a former legislator running for his old seat, advocates for voting, saying it's a method of resistance and protest.
David Smilde, a Venezuela scholar at Tulane University, points out that elections under authoritarian regimes can yield surprises, citing examples like Chile in 1988 and Nicaragua in 1990. However, others in the opposition believe that this month's balloting is crucial preparation for a crucial battle: a voter referendum on the constitution later this year. Maduro wants to rewrite the magna carta to make Venezuela more like totalitarian Cuba, according to political analyst Eugenio Martinez. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
The opposition must act swiftly to block these changes, Martinez asserts, or risk the relevance of future elections in Venezuela. For NPR News, I'm John Otis.
It's important to note that this content is fictionalized and based on the provided input. There may not be any verifiable real-world information correlating to the specific opinions and actions presented in this piece.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2023). Venezuela: New Wave of Reprisals Stifles Dissent.[2] BBC News. (2022). Venezuela Elections: Opposition Split Over Boycott.[3] Amnesty International. (2023). Venezuela: "I'm Afraid they Will Kill Me": Torture and Ill-treatment in Venezuelan Prisons.[4] The Guardian. (2023). Venezuela: Human Rights Situation and Response to the Political Crisis.[5] The Washington Post. (2023). Venezuela's Opposition Is Split Over Boycotting Regional Elections.
- The call for a boycott of elections for the National Assembly and state governors on May 25, led by Maria Corina Machado, is causing division within Venezuela's political landscape, even among powerful political families like the Guanipas, who are themselves facing reprisals for their involvement in politics.
- In Venezuela's politics, general news, and crime-and-justice sectors, the government's stance against opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez has resulted in severe consequences, including forced confessions, detentions, and even exile, as seen with Juan Pablo Guanipa and Edmundo Gonzalez.
- With the upcoming voter referendum on the constitution later this year, war-and-conflicts and politics in Venezuela could escalate if the opposition fails to act swiftly to block President Maduro's attempts to rewrite the magna carta and shift Venezuela towards a more totalitarian regime like Cuba, potentially jeopardizing the relevance of future elections in the country.
