CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s long-awaited presidential election will be held on July 28, the country’s election chief announced Tuesday, but leading opposition candidates remain excluded from the vote.
National Electoral Commission Chairman Elvis Amoroso announced the dates three days after lawmakers proposed more than 20 dates ranging from as early as mid-April to as late as December.
Venezuela is reportedly terminating a U.S. deal to deport illegal immigrants, saying some have committed deportable crimes.
President Nicolas Maduro is widely expected to seek re-election. His government, its allies and other groups have drafted a proposal suggesting a timeline and covering other aspects of the election.
In choosing a date beyond June 30, the Council is allowing the government to follow part of an agreement reached with opposition parties last year that called for a vote in the second half of 2024.
A Venezuelan flag is raised by protesters in Caracas, Venezuela, May 3, 2017. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
But the election plan makes no mention of the participation of candidates barred from running by the government, including Maduro’s main opponent this year, María Colina Machado.
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Machado won a primary last year run by a U.S.-backed opposition group known as the Unity Platform.
Mr. Amoroso signed Mr. Machado’s expulsion last summer based on his previous position as the country’s comptroller. He did not mention her candidacy in Tuesday’s announcement.
