CARACAS.- Two months before the next presidential elections in Venezuelathe political landscape is marked by uncertainty and controversy, especially after the decision to withdraw the invitation to the European Union to participate as an observer in an electoral process that, according to many experts, is marred by the advantage in favor of the dictator’s campaign Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro, who seeks to remain in power, faces an unusual scenario with the presence of the diplomat Edmund Gonzalez Urrutia as a surprising alternative, in the midst of blockades of opposition candidates. However, two months before the key date of July 28, the political board is still in constant motion.
The electoral process in Venezuela has been the subject of criticism from various sectors, who see it as a mechanism designed to favor the interests of the current regime. From the setting of the election date, coinciding with the birth of Hugo Chávez, to the veto of opposition figures such as María Corina Machado, they show a pattern of actions that limit plurality and political competition in the country.
Maduro’s media omnipresence, even being represented as a superhero in official propaganda, and the use of the state apparatus in his campaign, including increased public spending on social programs, are seen by analysts as mechanisms of social control.
The decision of the National Electoral Council to withdraw the invitation to the European Union generated a new level of tension, evidencing divisions and the lack of consensus on the transparency of the electoral process. While some sectors justify this measure as a response to international sanctions, others interpret it as an attempt to delegitimize the process before the international community.
In this context, the figure of González Urrutia emerges as an unexpected alternative, although his candidacy faces obstacles and criticism from different fronts. Unity within the opposition is challenged by threats and legal maneuvers seeking to undermine its participation in the elections.
In the midst of this scenario of uncertainty, Venezuelan society is preparing for a crucial election, where the participation of different national and international actors will mark the development and final result of the electoral process.
Source: With information from AFP
