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Diabierna, 3 November 2023 AWEMainta INTERNATIONAL 31
Venezuelan Opposition Stands Firm on
Primary Success Despite Legal Challenges
A press conference on Wednesday, Biagio Pilieri, speaking upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
on behalf of the Unified Democratic Platform and closely
aligned with the winning candidate of the October 22 prima- According to the latest bulletin from the National Primary
ries, María Corina Machado, emphasized the resounding Commission, over 2.3 million people participated in the
success of the opposition’s internal elections. Pilieri declared process, resulting in a resounding victory for María Corina
that the results cannot be erased, neither by legal summons Machado, who secured 92.35% of the votes, equivalent to
nor by court rulings. over 2.25 million ballots.
He stressed that “nothing and no one can deny the results, These opposition primaries were organized without the
their political impact, or the democratic forces,” referring to support of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Despite
opposition parties. Furthermore, he confirmed the existence earlier attempts to seek technical and logistical assistance
of a unified candidacy with María Corina Machado, aiming to from the CNE, the council proposed postponing the event,
secure victory in the 2024 presidential elections. prompting the National Primary Commission to proceed
independently.
The strategy of the opposition alliance, known as the Unified
Platform, revolves around defending the election results, In a subsequent development, the Electoral Chamber of
advocating for fair electoral conditions, winning the presiden- the Supreme Court of Justice issued a ruling overturning
tial elections, and establishing a broad-based government. the actions of the Primary Commission and upholding an
Machado has proposed three key elements: establishing alleged “firm disqualification” against Machado, preventing
an integral electoral security command, working towards a her from seeking public office or running before the National
national agreement, and developing a programmatic plan Electoral Council. Machado contests this sanction, claiming
known as “Tierra de Gracia” (Land of Grace), which outlines it is illegal and unconstitutional.
her proposed government plan.
Furthermore, the Attorney General’s Office initiated an inves-
In the October 22 primaries, the Venezuelan opposition held tigation into alleged irregularities and inflated voter figures
internal elections with the participation of 10 candidates in the primary process, including the source of financing
to select a representative for the alliance of parties in the and scrutiny of voting records.
