Venezuela’s National Electoral Center (CNE), which is fully controlled by the ruling socialist government, announced on Tuesday that the South American country will hold its next sham presidential election on July 28, the birthday of late dictator Hugo Chávez. did.
The rushed election schedule proposed by the CNE facilitates the fraudulent “re-election” of socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, who is seeking a third six-year term. Opposition candidate Maria Colina Machado, who polls say is the front-runner in the race against Mr. Maduro, remains barred from running for public office until 2030 and is a largely unknown and popular candidate. Only “opposition” candidates will compete.
In addition to the fake election dates, CNE Secretary Elvis Amoroso said Venezuelans will have to update their voter registration information for the “elections” between March 18 and April 16, if necessary. announced. Candidates who are not banned by the socialist-controlled body must declare their candidacy between March 21 and 25. The presidential election campaign will run from July 5th to 25th, with voting taking place on July 28th.
#Envivo| Elvis Amoroso, CNE President, attends the “July 28” presidential election.
Connect Nuestra Señal #Envivo Aqua: https://t.co/6wxTIBWMgC pic.twitter.com/kqIOKvnPnW
— VPItv (@VPITV) March 5, 2024
Amoroso before heading Venezuela’s top electoral authority. ratified Machado was suspended in 2023 while serving as Venezuela’s auditor general.
The schedule for the upcoming fake presidential election was announced less than a week after the decision by Maduro’s government and several groups of allies. signed A new agreement for a “free and fair” 2024 presidential election. According to the rogue socialist regime, the agreement was signed in Barbados between the Maduro regime and Venezuela’s Unity Platform “opposition” coalition members in 2023, under the watchful eye of US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It replaces the October 2018 agreement.
The “Barbados Accord,” which the Maduro government repeatedly violated during its brief period of power, requires both parties to honor a series of vague promises to participate in and host “free and fair” presidential elections sometime during the latter half of the Barbados administration. was demanding. 2024. The date for the agreement’s virtual election has not been announced.
In exchange for that promise, the Maduro government received President Joe Biden has offered enough oil and gas sanctions relief to allow Venezuela to sell its oil freely in the United States and international markets such as China and India. The sanctions relief was passed despite the fact that neither Maduro nor members of his socialist government have shown any signs of taking Barbados’ commitments seriously.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on September 1, 2015. (Parker Songpool/Getty Images)
Last week’s “Caracas Accord” suggested a possible election date of the 27th, but the regime coincidentally has given importance to the socialist regime’s quasi-religious structure: March 5th and July 28th. selected. March 5th is the anniversary of the death of President Maduro’s predecessor, the late dictator Hugh Chavez, and the regime posthumously elevated Chavez to the fictitious rank of “Supreme and Eternal Commander of the Revolution,” and on July 28th. is Chavez’s birthday.
The Maduro regime announced the birth of Chávez in order to imitate the traditional commemoration of Venezuela’s birthday and death of independence hero Simón Bolívar, who was born on July 24, 1783 and died on December 17, 1830. The sun and sunset are celebrated as holidays.
Jorge Rodriguez, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, claimed On Tuesday, it announced that the CNE’s sham election schedule is “compliant” with the Barbados agreement, as the next sham election will be held in late 2024.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (center) and first lady Cilia Flores (Republican) greet supporters at a rally commemorating the 20th anniversary of the anti-imperialist declaration of late former President Hugo Chávez in Caracas on February 29, 2024. ) (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images)
Dictator Maduro celebrated the CNE’s fake election announcement on social media, describing the electoral schedule as “sacred words.”
“Sacred words, the electoral power has spoken. President Maduro’s message read: “Let us move forward for the love of Venezuela, for the Bolivarian Revolution, and for the love of our eternal commander Hugo Chávez.” . Let’s go to battle and win!”
Palabra Sagrada, Hablo El Podel Elections… The July 28th Congress will not be held, nor will the presidential elections. Eternal Commander Hugo Chavez cherishes the Venezuelan revolution and new love. Vamos a la batala, vamos a ganar!
— Nicolas Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 5, 2024
Machado reacted to the announcement while campaigning in Barinas state, calling on his allies to remain calm and resolute. Although it is illegal for Machado to hold political office, he continues to campaign.
“Given what happened today, they intend to ignore the rights of Venezuelans. Listen to me, be calm and firm,” Machado said in a campaign statement on Tuesday. “This is what’s going to happen, and it’s going to take more work than ever before.”
Machado reiterated that she received the assignment as a result of her overwhelming efforts. victory She won more than 90 percent of the vote in last year’s opposition primary. Mr. Machado insisted that such a mandate was meant to be taken “to the end,” adding that the whole world is asking Mr. Maduro to allow actual free and fair elections.
Yo resibi un mandat. Esthe’s mission as a commander is to choose freedom. Seek a final legal agreement.
As with negotiation, ignore the election results and participate in the election.
There is a compromise… pic.twitter.com/ep48VVyUGd
— Maria Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) March 5, 2024
Maduro’s government claims that the self-organized opposition primaries were fraudulent and that the socialist-led tribunal was rigged. declared It is “invalid”.socialist government too kidnapped Several of Machado’s campaign managers and socialist thugs committed the violence. was assaulted Participants in Machado’s past campaign events.
Despite already being banned, Machado exclude The possibility of someone replacing her on the ballot. The CNE says Machado and Venezuela’s “opposition” will have three weeks to decide on a candidate, in case Machado ultimately decides to support a replacement or a third candidate. It is said to be within
Maduro was first elected president of Venezuela in April 2013 as a result of an emergency election following the death of Chavez in March 2013, and his term of office was six years. At the time, Maduro narrowly defeated Capriles Radonski by a margin of 1.49 percentage points in a close contest. contested The election was marred by thousands of cases of fraud. Mr. Capriles initially contested the election vigorously, but ultimately withdrew it.
Supporters welcome opposition presidential candidate Maria Colina Machado as she arrives at the polling station during the opposition primary elections in Caracas, Venezuela, October 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix)
In 2018, as the collapse of socialism reached its nadir in Venezuela, Maduro clung to power, securing a new six-year term in office by seizing a sham. election Only President Maduro and a few selected “rivals” were able to participate.
Due to highly fraudulent elections and Maduro’s refusal to resign, the then-opposition-led National Assembly acted in accordance with Venezuela’s constitution’s “rupture with democratic order” and appointed Juan Guaido, then head of the federation. He took over the then-legislative body as interim president in January 2019.
Mr. Guaidó’s appointment sparked a constitutional crisis, with both him and Mr. Maduro vying for the Venezuelan presidency. Mr. Guaidó could not exercise any power in the country, and even the interim president could not remove Mr. Maduro. Guaido’s appointment as president dissolved It was approved by the opposition-led National Assembly in December 2022, almost four years after it was enacted, leaving Maduro’s government unchallenged. Mr. Guaido and the now ousted opposition members are currently living in exile.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
