In Venezuela and after several twists and turns, the opposition coalition finally managed to register a candidate for the July 28 presidential election: former ambassador and political scientist Edmundo Gonzales Urrutia. Candidates could only register until Monday March 25 at midnight, but the National Electoral Council granted them a deadline. The opposition accuses President Maduro of choosing his rivals in the presidential race.
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It must be said that the one who was to be the opposition candidate for Venezuelaacademic Corina Yoris, did not manage to register on time: she explained that she had not been able to access the CNE website or its premises, the CNE being often accused of being at the orders of those in power Chavista.
But Corina Yoris herself was only a second choice, put forward a few days ago by the woman who won the opposition primary last October, Maria Corina Machado. Her large victory suggested that she could, during the presidential election, rally behind her an often divided Venezuelan opposition. But in mid-March, she was declared ineligible, after the government accused her of corruption and of supporting a foreign invasion, which she has always denied.
Read alsoPresidential election in Venezuela: the opposition announces that it was unable to register its candidate
Nicolas Maduro accused of choosing his rivals
After the rejection of her candidacy, the failure of Corina Yoris to register, and finally the registration after the deadline of Edmundo Gonzales Urrutia, Maria Corina Machado accused the president – and candidate for his re-election -, Nicolas Maduro having ” selected » his rivals. She also distanced herself from the last minute candidacy – announced by the CNE on Monday at 11:58 p.m. – of another candidate, the centrist Manuel Rosales. This veteran politician is far from unanimous in the opposition, who criticize him for his regular contacts with Nicolas Maduro since he became governor again in 2021.
Brazil, Colombia and the United States announced on Tuesday their “ concern “, and Uruguay, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, estimated that the country ” consolidated as a dictatorship “. “ We regret any development that could hamper electoral guarantees “, declared for his part the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while calling on the international community to “ continue to engage with the parties towards a negotiated roadmap “.
In fact, the story may not be over: the opposition and some analysts believe that in the event of successful negotiations between the government and the opposition, the current candidate Edmundo Gonzales Urrutia could still be replaced by Maria Corina Machado, Corina Yoris or another.
Attacks on the opposition
But for the moment, the government continues to target the opposition: on Monday, when he submitted his candidacy to the CNE to the cheers of hundreds of activists, President Nicolas Maduro treated – without naming her – Corina Yoris, who was still supposed to be his adversary, of “ puppet » in the service of traditional elites. On Tuesday evening, he went further, addressing “ terrorist » Maria Corina Machado’s party, saying two men linked to her party were arrested while planning to assassinate her.
Also this Tuesday, Argentina announced for its part that leaders of the Venezuelan opposition being the subject of “ acts of harassment and persecution » had found refuge in the residence of the Argentine ambassador in Caracas. The Argentine press speaks of six activists linked to Maria Corina Machado.
Read alsoVenezuela: opposition figures criticize the date chosen for the presidential election