Venezuela Commission Announces 14 Candidates for Opposition Primaries
Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly has announced the 14 candidates who will compete in the primaries for the upcoming presidential election. The announcement was made on June 26th, 2023, by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Background of the Venezuelan Political Crisis
Venezuela has been in a state of political crisis since the death of former President Hugo Chavez in 2013. His successor, Nicolas Maduro, has been accused of rigging elections and using violence to suppress dissent. The opposition has been calling for new elections and for Maduro to step down.
Opposition Primaries
The opposition has organized primaries to select a single candidate to run against Maduro in the upcoming presidential election. The primaries are scheduled to take place in July 2023.
The 14 candidates who will compete in the primaries are:
• Leopoldo Lopez, a former mayor of Caracas and leader of the Popular Will party.
• Henrique Capriles, a former governor of Miranda and leader of the Justice First party.
• Maria Corina Machado, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Vente Venezuela party.
• Julio Borges, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Democratic Action party.
• Antonio Ledezma, a former mayor of Caracas and leader of the Movement for Socialism party.
• Henrique Salas Romer, a former governor of Carabobo and leader of the Project Venezuela party.
• Manuel Rosales, a former governor of Zulia and leader of the A New Era party.
• Pablo Medina, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Democratic Unity Roundtable party.
• Ismael Garcia, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Radical Cause party.
• María Corina Machado, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Vente Venezuela party.
• Luis Florido, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Popular Will party.
• Stalin Gonzalez, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Radical Cause party.
• Freddy Guevara, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Popular Will party.
• Reinaldo Quijada, a former member of the National Assembly and leader of the Democratic Action party.
Opposition’s Strategy
The opposition is hoping that the primaries will help to unite the various factions of the opposition and present a unified front against Maduro. The opposition is also hoping that the primaries will help to energize the electorate and increase voter turnout in the presidential election.
The opposition is also hoping that the primaries will help to legitimize the election and make it more difficult for Maduro to rig the results. The opposition is hoping that the primaries will help to ensure that the election is free and fair.
Maduro’s Response
Maduro has denounced the opposition’s primaries as a “farce” and has accused the opposition of trying to “steal” the election. He has also accused the opposition of trying to “undermine” the legitimacy of the election.
Maduro has also accused the opposition of trying to “manipulate” the election by selecting a single candidate to run against him. He has also accused the opposition of trying to “rig” the election by selecting a candidate who is more likely to win.
International Reactions
The international community has largely welcomed the announcement of the opposition’s primaries. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have expressed their support for the opposition’s efforts to hold free and fair elections.
The international community has also expressed its support for the opposition’s efforts to ensure that the election is free and fair. The international community has also expressed its support for the opposition’s efforts to ensure that the election is free from fraud and manipulation.
Outlook
The opposition’s primaries are seen as a major step towards holding free and fair elections in Venezuela. The opposition is hoping that the primaries will help to unite the various factions of the opposition and present a unified front against Maduro.
The opposition is also hoping that the primaries will help to energize the electorate and increase voter turnout in the presidential election. The opposition is also hoping that the primaries will help to legitimize the election and make it more difficult for Maduro to rig the results.
The international community has expressed its support for the opposition’s efforts to hold free and fair elections. The international community has also expressed its support for the opposition’s efforts to ensure that the election is free from fraud and manipulation.
The outcome of the primaries and the presidential election will be crucial for the future of Venezuela. The opposition is hoping that the primaries and the presidential election will help to restore democracy and end the political crisis in Venezuela.