On Sunday, Venezuelans will cast their votes for their first comprehensive presidential election in more than ten years, following a decision by opposition parties to end their boycott and unite behind a single candidate in their effort to unseat the current government.
Joseph Humire, the executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), stated to Fox News Digital that “the de facto opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has rallied the people of Venezuela to such an extent that both Chavistas and anti-Chavistas are seeking a change.”
However, Humire warned, “merely replacing the president is inadequate. Regardless of who becomes Venezuela’s next leader, the criminal system entrenched within Venezuelan institutions will likely persist and adapt. An internal initiative is essential but insufficient to dismantle the Venezuela Threat Network.”
He added, “Nonetheless, this doesn’t diminish Maria Corina’s achievements, regardless of Sunday’s outcome – she has given Venezuelans renewed hope.”
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According to the BBC, opposition followers are supporting Edmundo Gonzalez, who appears to have a significant advantage over the incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In response, Maduro has forewarned of a “bloodbath” if his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) suffers defeat.
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores wave to supporters during the closing event of the election campaign on July 25, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuelans are set to vote in the presidential election on July 28. Both Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez are vying for the presidency.
(Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
The PSUV leads a coalition with control over 256 of the 277 seats in the National Assembly and authorities over the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and the National Electoral Council. The opposition previously struggled to unify behind a single candidate and boycotted the 2018 election, citing concerns regarding the potential for free and fair elections under Maduro’s administration.
On social media platform X, Humire shared polling data predicting potential outcomes based on varying levels of voter turnout, showing Gonzalez likely to secure roughly double the votes compared to Maduro.
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Humire speculated that Maduro might resort to significant electoral fraud or negotiate a deal to maintain his position.
Protests on Thursday prior to the election attracted thousands to the capital, with Maduro alleging that his rivals instigated violence while he aimed for peace. Additionally, the opposition encountered challenges in disseminating their messages, as state television reportedly did not air any coverage of their rally, according to The Associated Press.
Further complicating matters, Reuters noted that Venezuelans living abroad faced difficulties in registering to vote due to bureaucratic obstacles, leaving only a small number of them prepared for the election on Sunday.
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Maduro rose to power following Hugo Chavez’s death, taking office in 2013. Under his leadership, the PSUV has maintained control for over 25 years, making the upcoming election a potentially transformative event for the nation.
Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado hold their images during a rally in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela, on July 23, 2024. Presidential elections will occur on July 28, 2024.
(Raul Arboldea/AFP via Getty Images)
“Against all odds, overcoming the immense geopolitical forces at play in Venezuela and the entrenched criminal enterprise in power … the election on Sunday could signify the dawn of the end of the most catastrophic political crisis in our country’s history,” commented Isaias Medina III, a former U.N. Security Council diplomat and Harvard Mason fellow, to Fox News Digital.
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Medina further stated, “If this occurs, it could lead to extraordinary development and growth for our nation, propelled by policies aligned with Western ideals and partnerships with allied nations that will rectify the damaging socialist failings of the past two decades in the richest country in the region. Just like a shining city on a hill, a liberated Venezuela will glow anew.”
