Digimagaz.com – Polls have officially opened in Venezuela’s presidential election, marking a critical juncture for the country as incumbent President Nicolas Maduro faces his most formidable electoral challenge since he assumed power 11 years ago. Amid a prolonged economic crisis, nearly 21 million registered voters are participating in an election that could potentially end the United Socialist Party’s 25-year rule.
The election is seen as a referendum on Maduro’s presidency, characterized by economic turmoil that has driven seven million Venezuelans to emigrate. Voters were seen queuing up at polling stations nationwide, including some that opened late. Tibisay Aguirre, a 57-year-old cook and public worker from Maracay in the state of Aragua, expressed her desire for change: “I came to vote for a new Venezuela, which will be reborn, and because I’m a public worker, we need change to be able to have a dignified salary.”
Polls are scheduled to close at 6 pm local time (22:00 GMT), with results expected late Sunday night or in the following days.
The election coincides with what would have been the 70th birthday of Hugo Chavez, the revered former President who passed away in 2013. Maduro, who succeeded Chavez, is seeking a third term, confronting an opposition that has unified behind a single candidate after years of infighting and election boycotts.
The opposition candidate, 74-year-old Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was declared the opposition bloc candidate after the main opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was banned from holding public office. Despite this consolidation, concerns about the fairness of the vote persist, with allegations of electoral manipulation and arrests of opposition members.
Maduro’s 2018 re-election was deemed fraudulent by the United States and other international actors. However, Maduro maintains that Venezuela boasts the world’s most transparent electoral system. He has also issued warnings of potential unrest if he were to lose, underscoring the high stakes of this election.
During the voting process, Maduro emphasized his commitment to recognizing the election results and urged other candidates to do the same. “No one is going to create chaos in Venezuela,” he asserted. “I recognize and will recognize the electoral referee, the official announcements,” he stated, calling on the other nine candidates to respect and publicly acknowledge the official results.
Under Maduro’s government, Venezuela has experienced severe economic decline, a significant emigration crisis, and deteriorating international relations. Sanctions from the United States, European Union, and other entities have further crippled the country’s oil-dependent economy. Maduro has pledged to foster peace and economic growth, aiming to reduce Venezuela’s reliance on oil income.
As Venezuelans cast their votes, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcome could reshape the nation’s future and influence regional dynamics. The election represents a crucial opportunity for change, but whether it will lead to the anticipated transformation remains uncertain.
Source : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/28/venezuelans-vote-as-opposition-challenges-president-maduros-grip-on-power