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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 29 July 2024
Venezuelan election could lead to a seismic shift in politics or give

President Maduro 6 more years

By REGINA GARCIA CANO to respect “the decision of
Associated Press our people.”
Venezuelans are voting “What we see today are lines
Sunday in a presidential of joy and hope,” González,
election whose outcome 74, told reporters. “We will
will either lead to a seismic change hatred for love.
shift in politics or extend by We will change poverty for
six more years the policies progress. We will change
that caused the world’s corruption for honesty. We
worst peacetime economic will change goodbyes for
collapse. reunions.”
Whether it is President Nicolás An April poll by Caracas-
Maduro who is chosen, or his based Delphos said about a
main opponent, retired dip- quarter of Venezuelans were
lomat Edmundo González, thinking about emigrating if
the election will have rip- Maduro wins Sunday. The
ple effects throughout the poll had a margin of error
Americas. Government op- of plus or minus 2 percent-
ponents and supporters alike age points.
have signaled their interest in Most Venezuelans who mi-
joining the exodus of 7.7 mil- Voters line up outside a polling station that reads in Spanish "Vote" during the presidential election grated over the past 11 years
in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, July 28, 2024.
lion Venezuelans who have Associated Press. settled in Latin America and
already left their homes for the Caribbean. In recent
opportunities abroad should has managed to line up be- world's largest proven oil medicine in the hospitals, years, many began setting
Maduro win another term. hind a single candidate after reserves, and once boast- good pay for the teachers, their sights on the U.S.
Polls opened at 6 a.m., but years of intraparty divisions ed Latin America's most for the doctors,” she said, Both campaigns have distin-
voters started lining up at and election boycotts that advanced economy. But it casting her ballot in the guished themselves not only
some voting centers across torpedoed their ambitions to entered into a free fall after working-class Petare neigh- for the political movements
the country much earlier, topple the ruling party. Maduro took the helm. Plum- borhood of Caracas. they represent but also on
sharing water, coffee and González is representing a meting oil prices, widespread Elsewhere, Liana Ibarra, a how they have addressed
snacks for several hours. coalition of opposition par- shortages and hyperinflation manicurist in greater Cara- voters' hopes and fears.
Alejandro Sulbarán snagged ties after being selected in that soared past 130,000% cas, got in line at 3 a.m. Sun- Maduro's campaign rallies
the first spot at his voting April as a last-minute stand-in led first to social unrest and day with her water, coffee featured lively electronic me-
center by getting in line at for opposition powerhouse then mass emigration. and cassava snack-laden rengue dancing as well as
5 p.m. Saturday. He said he Maria Corina Machado, who Economic sanctions from backpack only to find at speeches attacking his op-
stood outside an elementary was blocked by the Maduro- U.S. seeking to force Madu- least 150 people ahead of ponents. But after he caught
school in a hillside suburb of controlled Supreme Tribunal ro from power after his 2018 her. “There used to be a heat from leftist allies such as
the capital, Caracas, for “the of Justice from running for reelection — which the U.S. lot of indifference toward Brazilian President Luiz Inácio
future of the country.” any office for 15 years. and dozens of other coun- elections, but not anymore,” Lula da Silva for a comment
“We are all here for the Machado, a former lawmak- tries condemned as illegiti- Ibarra said. about a “bloodbath” should
change we want," Sulbarán, er, swept the opposition's mate — only deepened the She said that if González los- he lose, Maduro recoiled. His
74, who runs a maintenance October primary with over crisis. es, she will ask her relatives son told the Spanish news-
business, said as other voters 90% of the vote. After she Maduro's pitch to voters this living in the U.S. to sponsor paper El Pais that the rul-
nodded in agreement. was blocked from joining the election is one of economic her and her son's application ing party would peacefully
The number of eligible voters presidential race, she chose security, which he tried to to legally emigrate there. hand over the presidency if
for this presidential election a college professor as her sell with stories of entrepre- “We can’t take it anymore,” it loses — a rare admission
is estimated to be around substitute on the ballot, but neurship and references to she said. of vulnerability out of step
17 million. Polls will close at the National Electoral Coun- a stable currency exchange The opposition has tried to with Maduro campaign's
6 p.m. local time, but it was cil also barred her from regis- and lower inflation rates. The seize on the huge inequi- triumphalist tone.
unclear when electoral au- tering. That's when González, International Monetary Fund ties arising from the crisis, In contrast, the rallies of
thorities will release the first a political newcomer, was forecasts the economy will during which Venezuelans González and Machado
results. chosen. grow 4% this year — one of abandoned their country's prompted people to cry
Authorities set Sunday's elec- Sunday's ballot also features the fastest in Latin America currency, the bolivar, for the and chant “ Freedom! Free-
tion to coincide with what eight other candidates chal- — after having shrunk 71% U.S. dollar. dom! ” as the duo passed by.
would have been the 70th lenging Maduro, but only from 2012 to 2020. González and Machado fo- People handed the devout
birthday of former President González threatens Maduro's But most Venezuelans have cused much of their cam- Catholics rosaries, walked
Hugo Chávez, the revered rule. not seen any improvement in paigning on Venezuela’s along highways and went
leftist firebrand who died of After voting, Maduro said their quality of life. Many earn vast hinterland, where the through military checkpoints
cancer in 2013, leaving his he would recognize the under $200 a month, which economic activity seen in to reach their events. Oth-
Bolivarian revolution in the election result and urged all means families struggle to Caracas in recent years ers video-called their rela-
hands of Maduro. But Mad- other candidates to publicly afford essential items. Some didn't materialize. They tives who have migrated to
uro and his United Socialist declare that they would do work second and third jobs. promised a government that let them catch a glimpse of
Party of Venezuela are more the same. A basket of basic staples — would create sufficient jobs the candidates.
unpopular than ever among “No one is going to create sufficient to feed of family of to attract Venezuelans living “We do not want more Ven-
many voters who blame his chaos in Venezuela,” Madu- four for a month — costs an abroad to return home and ezuelans leaving, and to
policies for crushing wages, ro said. “I recognize and will estimated $385. reunite with their families. those who have left I say that
spurring hunger, crippling the recognize the electoral ref- Judith Cantilla, 52, voted to After voting at a church- we will do everything possi-
oil industry and separating eree, the official announce- change those conditions. adjacent poll site in an up- ble to get them back here,
families due to migration. ments and I will make sure “For me, change in Venezu- per-class Caracas neighbor- and we will welcome them
Maduro, 61, is facing off they are recognized.” ela (is) that there are jobs, hood, González called on with open arms,” González
against an opposition that Venezuela sits atop the that there’s security, there’s the country’s armed forces said Sunday.q