Venezuela Faces Tense Elections Amid Calls for Boycott and Rising…

Venezuelans are preparing for elections on Sunday, following Maduro’s disputed victory last year. The main opposition has called for a boycott, while a faction led by Capriles insists on voting as resistance. Security is tight with significant arrests of opposition figures. The elections take place amidst serious economic struggles and international sanctions, raising questions about the legitimacy and outcomes of the electoral process.

On Sunday, Venezuela prepares for a significant election, a mere ten months following President Nicolas Maduro’s controversial claim of victory in a presidential race fraught with violence and allegations of fraud. Voter participation remains uncertain, as much of the opposition has called on citizens to boycott the polls, considering them yet another illegitimate election. This time, Venezuelans are set to elect a new parliament and 24 state governors.

Maria Corina Machado, a prominent engineer and former member of parliament leading the main opposition, encourages voters to abstain, arguing that participating only legitimizes Maduro’s regime. Meanwhile, another opposition faction led by Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate, has rejected the boycott, emphasizing the necessity to vote as an act of resistance against the government. Capriles stated, “We must vote as an act of resistance, of struggle.”

In the days leading up to the election, tensions have escalated markedly. Venezuelan authorities deployed over 400,000 security agents to oversee the electoral process. Noteworthily, Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close associate of Machado and an opposition figure, was apprehended recently under allegations of spearheading a “terrorist network” aimed at disrupting the vote. Ominously, this arrest is part of a broader crackdown on opposition leaders.

Guanipa’s detention followed the arrest of about 50 individuals suspected of being mercenaries allegedly funded by foreign interests. Caracas has a history of alleging foreign plots against the government, particularly linking suspected insurgents to Colombia, leading to the closure of the border until after the election.

Another opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, left Venezuela for Spain last year amid threats against his safety, further illustrating the peril faced by those opposing Maduro’s administration. Guanipa asserted on social media that he had been “kidnapped by the forces of Nicolas Maduro’s regime” but vowed to persist in his struggle against the government’s alleged tyranny.

Many opposition supporters feel disillusioned with the electoral process, especially after the lack of credible results following the July elections, where Maduro claimed victory without substantial evidence. Opposition groups tallied their own results, which indicated a significant win for Gonzalez Urrutia.

In recent months, Maduro’s government has faced growing isolation internationally, with only a few states like Russia and Cuba still recognizing him as the legitimate leader. The upcoming elections coincide with a tumultuous economic backdrop, as Venezuela’s economy, once a Latin American stronghold, flounders amid severe mismanagement and crippling sanctions.

In a further blow to the Maduro administration, U.S. President Trump has curtailed Chevron’s operations in Venezuela, potentially crippling one of his last remaining financial lifelines. Trump has also withdrawn deferred action status for tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the U.S., exacerbating Maduro’s challenges, as the pressure from outside does not seem to deter him from his course.

Adding to the complexity, the elections will mark a new chapter, with voters engaging in the first parliamentary elections in the contentious oil-rich region of Essequibo, bordering Guyana, which has been administered by Guyana for years. Caracas has threatened to annex parts of this disputed territory, an issue that further complicates the political landscape as Venezuela heads to the polls this Sunday.

Venezuela’s upcoming elections are set against a backdrop of tension, division, and opposition calls for a boycott. As Maduro seeks to consolidate power, many citizens feel disenfranchised, presenting a complex picture of voter participation. The atmosphere remains charged, with significant security arrangements and opposition arrests making headlines. As the country grapples with economic turmoil and international isolation, the implications of this election could resonate beyond its borders.

Original Source: www.france24.com