The irregularities of the electoral process in Venezuela in codes

One week before the regional and local elections in Venezuela, complaints about irregularities in the campaign are increasing, despite having guarantees that the opposition has demanded for years, such as international observation of the European Union (EU) and the Carter Center, and a National Electoral Council (CNE) more plural and diverse.

The claims and complaints began at the time the call for elections was announced, on May 13.

Here are five keys to discontent:

1.- Advance campaign

Both opposition and ruling party candidates have campaigned almost since the election date was announced. Article 75 of the Electoral Processes Law establishes that propaganda that “takes place outside the period” established for it will not be allowed.

After this call, the opponents, who have faced divisions and lack of clarity in their strategy against the Government for months, have tried to resume, through visits to communities, rallies, social networks and promises of “change”, contact with the people, after disconnecting from the population, product of the pandemic due to COVID-19 and their internal disputes.

Meanwhile, Chavismo has also campaigned through the same media, social networks and widely disseminated speeches with promises of economic improvement or the skills that any of its candidates may have.

2.- The use of state resources

One of the most recurrent complaints throughout the electoral process is the use of the resources of the Venezuelan State by the ruling party to campaign. Two of the five rectors of the National Electoral Council (CNE), both related to the opposition, have drawn attention for this reason.

The rectors Roberto Picón and Enrique Márquez have denounced the use of Twitter accounts of public institutions, state media, facades of state entities and even the speech of public officials to propagandize in favor of the ruling party, both before and during the campaign.

The civil organization Súmate adds “manipulation”, through the social benefits that the Government provides, in exchange for votes in favor of the Chavista candidates. However, at the moment, there are no known sanctions for any of these reasons.

3.- The “partiality” in the media

The Venezuelan authorities are constantly criticized for “confusing” the use of the media and state entities with propaganda dissemination channels of the government party and therefore, in electoral moments, complaints of partiality and imbalance grow.

According to an observation made by Súmate in the first days of the formal campaign, “more than 50% of the total monitoring of (the state channel) Venezolana de Televisión is towards the campaign of the (ruling) United Socialist Party of Venezuela.”

The organization also highlights the “advantage” of Chavismo, because the audiovisual media, both private and public, broadcast any appearance or event of President Nicolás Maduro or senior officials without them being mandatory. The president of Súmate, Francisco Castro, believes that it is due to government “pressure” on the press, he said.

4.- Vetos to opponents

Although the CNE must ensure that the campaign rules are met, opposition candidates, especially the most critical ones, face the difficulty of being able to convey their messages on time or as they wish.

The opposition has denounced on multiple occasions, in the campaign and outside it, the censorship they face and even the difficulties of accessing specific sites, as happened last October 10 when an electoral rehearsal was held, and a designated group of Chavista tried to prevent the participation of the opposition to the governor of Vargas, José Manuel Olivares.

Olivares faced, on that occasion, being pushed by the group that prevented his access to a voting center, in front of the military authorities who were monitoring the process, without any repercussions.

5.- The “disinformation” of the electoral process and offer

The calls to vote by the entity, the parties and candidates are constant, but Súmate sees “misinformation” and opacity in the electoral process and offer, as it considers that it is not disseminated enough.

“We are in the middle of a process with a lot of misinformation about, for example, electoral fairs (places where they teach citizens how to use the automated voting system), about the electoral offer. There is a lot of misinformation in terms of the mechanisms to vote, especially in such a complex election, “said Castro.

The CNE authorities have disseminated information about this on their social networks, but not on television and radio channels.