Elections in Venezuela, with the participation of a divided opposition

Published on : 11/21/2021 – 14:49

Participation of the opposition for the first time since 2017, return of an observation mission of the European Union: the regional and municipal elections, Sunday, November 21 in Venezuela, constitute a starting point for the government and the opposition .

Some 21 of the 30 million Venezuelans elect – out of 70,000 candidates running – 23 governors as well as the mayors and councilors of 335 municipalities in this country affected by an unprecedented economic crisis and by hyper-inflation.

The polling stations, equipped with machines, opened at 6 a.m. local (10 a.m. GMT) and will close in theory at 6 p.m. (10 p.m. GMT) with results expected around “2 or 3 a.m.” according to a source within the National Electoral Council (CNE).

In some offices queues have started to form.

“I come to exercise my right to vote in a democratic country. Each election is a blessing for this blessed country despite all its problems,” said José Casanova, 74, a Chavist activist (named Hugo Chavez, figure of the radical left Latin American and late predecessor of Nicolas Maduro) after having voted in the large popular district of Petaré (East of Caracas).

Victory announced for the Chavistas

President Nicolas Maduro seeks to lift the economic sanctions that weigh on his country by giving pledges of goodwill and democracy.

For its part, the divided opposition has finally decided to go to the ballot, hoping that it will allow it to boost a positive dynamic in view of the presidential election of 2024.

The result is not in doubt: Chavismo should win hands down, in a single-round ballot against fragmented opposition, believes political scientist Pablo Quintero.

Henrique Capriles, twice second in the presidential election, admitted that without a union, “let’s be honest: the PSUV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, in power) will win”.

According to observers, the opposition could win in at most six states: Tachira, Zulia, Lara (west), Nueva Esparta (island) or Sucre and Anzoategui (east).

Democracy against the lifting of sanctions

Facing economic sanctions, especially from the United States which wants to oust Maduro from power, Caracas is seeking to loosen the grip.

Objective: to provide guarantees of democracy “to at least partially lift the sanctions, especially those on oil,” said Oswaldo Ramirez, consultant.

Caracas, part of whose funds abroad are frozen, wants to be able to more easily sell its oil, of which the United States was the main buyer, and to be able to import without difficulty.

Power has made concessions. He opened negotiations with the opposition and invited observation missions from the EU, the UN or the Carter Foundation.

This is the first time that the EU will observe a poll in Venezuela in 15 years. Usually riding on its “sovereignty”, Caracas even swallowed a few snakes as statements by Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat. This “shows that the regime needs this mission” which gives credibility to the ballot, according to an opponent.

“Unify the struggle”

The opposition, which boycotted the 2018 presidential election and the 2020 legislative elections, broke with its strategy, but despite many speeches extolling the union, the different tendencies failed to merge their lists.

“Regardless of the result, there must be a reorganization and revival of all democratic forces,” Henrique Capriles said on Friday, who called on Venezuelans to vote.

Juan Guaido, powerless but recognized as interim president by some fifty countries, also says that it is necessary to “unify the struggle”. He indicated that he would not vote. “To vote or not (…) there is no dilemma, there is a certainty Maduro is and will continue to be illegitimate”.

“Let us prepare for a great election so that it is a great victory for democracy, for the constitution, for republican freedom,” said President Maduro, who is rubbing the hands of this division.

“There is no possibility of fraud with the machines”, underlines an electoral specialist of the opposition “but there can be coercion, persecution, motivation (purchase of votes, service etc .. .), unequal access to the media “.

With AFP