Maduro formalizes his candidacy for re-election. And the opposition?

The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroformalizes this Monday his candidacy for re-election before the electoral authority, designated to serve the chavismo and raise a fence to prevent the nomination of the opposition coalition he leads Maria Corina Machado. The deadline to register candidates closes in hours. This is what is known about the complex and changing electoral landscape in Venezuela.

Mature: green light

On July 28, Maduro aspires to a third term that will project him to 18 years in power, four more than his predecessor and political father Hugo Chávez had when he died in 2013. The governmental United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) called for his militancy to accompany the president to the National Electoral Council (CNE). It is expected to arrive heavily guarded with anti-riot vehicles deployed outside the headquarters in central Caracas. Another dozen groups have already formalized their support for Maduro“Here there is only one destiny: the popular victory (…), whatever they do, whatever they say, they have not and will never be able to defeat us.”“Maduro expressed after being named candidate by the PSUV last week.

Machado: red light

Machado won the primaries of the opposition coalition Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) held last October, but a 15-year political disqualification prevents him from running. Her government accuses her of corruption and advocating a foreign invasion, which she rejects.

He then nominated in his place Corina Yoris, an 80-year-old philosopher and university professor, who has never worked in public administration and her name appears clean in the CNE database.“Let’s fight this fight together”said Machado, who will continue to be the face of the campaign. “I am going to continue traveling throughout Venezuela, bringing strength and hope to every corner of the country”. But as of Sunday night, the PUD had not been able to register Yoris’ application. Neither does the Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party, of the governor of the oil-producing state of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, who was a presidential candidate in 2006.

Corina x 2

Social networks exploded after the announcement of “the Corinas”. It even came up “#CorinaChallenge”, in which users emulate an old publication by the teacher on social networks with the message: “My best wishes for a 2024 with freedom for Venezuela”“Being the delegate candidate, the representative candidate, which are the words she is using, seems to me to be an honor and I hope to know how to respond to this trust,” Yoris told the site La Gran Aldea.

Analysts rule out the candidacy of this academic, until now unknown in politics, and talk about looking for a “potable” candidate for Chavismo, less connected to Machado.“The PUD maintains permanent evaluation, discussion and decision meetings,” said leader Delsa Solórzano, without confirming the search for another alternative plan. Rosales? He does not enjoy the affinity of the candidate, but no one rules it out.

The consensus is, however, that any name that is registered must have Machado’s support. “The true unity of the parties is unity with the people; Only then will we defeat Maduro“, settled the liberal leader.

Access blocked

The first step to nominate a candidate is to enter the application on a CNE website. Therein lies the obstacle for the opposition, which has not yet received the codes to access the page and register the application. In a letter sent to the electoral body on Sunday, the PUD requested “a three-day extension to the period to nominate candidates (…) and we can proceed with the application that has been impossible for us until now.”

The CNE has granted extensions in previous processes to encourage greater participation. If the PUD manages to access and register a candidate, the system will issue a record that is then presented to the CNE. The board of directors of the electoral body authorizes or rejects the candidacy, which can also be challenged by third parties. Since Thursday, nine candidates who present themselves as opponents have registered, but are branded as government collaborators. Another 12 organizations from Maduro’s alliance also nominated him. The final list of candidates will not be available until the end of April.