Venezuela
Maduro faces third term – presidential election in July
Maduro is cracking down on government opponents and has banned several leading opposition figures from political activity. photo
© Jesus Vargas/dpa
Venezuela’s authoritarian head of state Maduro is likely to seek another term in office. It is unclear who will run against him in the election. Leading opposition candidates are not allowed.
María Corina Machado from the Vente Venezuela party was chosen as the opposition’s presidential candidate with a large majority in internal primaries in October. However, she is banned from holding public office for 15 years due to alleged irregularities during her time as a member of parliament. At the end of January, the Supreme Court confirmed the decision. “They’re scared because they know we’re going to sweep them away in an election,” Machado said during an appearance Tuesday.
In October last year, in an agreement signed in the Caribbean state of Barbados, Maduro and parts of the opposition agreed on a presidential election in the second half of 2024, for which both camps are free to choose their candidates. At that time, the USA had relaxed sanctions “in support of the agreement”. After the arrest of opposition representatives and the exclusion of candidates critical of the government from the elections, the sanctions were reinstated.
Venezuela has been in a serious political and economic crisis for years. Maduro is cracking down on government opponents and has banned several leading opposition figures from political activity. The economy of the once prosperous country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption and sanctions. According to the UN, more than seven million people have left Venezuela in recent years because of poverty and violence.