(Caracas) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro officially submitted his candidacy for re-election to the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Monday, accused by many of being under the orders of those in power and of wanting to prevent the candidacies of the opposition led by Maria Corina Machado.
“Mr. President Nicolas Maduro, Mr. candidate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), we put the destiny of the homeland in your hands, and we know that you will never let this people down,” said Diosdado Cabello, vice president. -president of the PSUV, after signing the official documents.
The deadline for candidate registration is Monday. If Mr. Maduro’s candidacy is now official, the main opposition platform has not yet succeeded in registering its representative.
Green light for Maduro
Dressed in a white tracksuit in the colors of Venezuela, and brandishing a sign with drawings of Simon Bolivar and Hugo Chavez, Mr. Maduro wanted to make the ceremony a demonstration. He was accompanied to the CNE by thousands of supporters, many of them dressed in red, and chanting his name.
Nicolas Maduro, 61, is the heir of “Chavismo”, the doctrine of his predecessor Hugo Chavez (1999-2013) for a “socialism of the 21ste century” based on nationalizations, a strong presence of the State and the military apparatus.
More than 60 countries, including the United States, did not recognize his re-election in 2018, boycotted by the opposition. This non-recognition led to economic sanctions targeting in particular the country’s oil sector, which has the largest reserves of black gold on the planet.
Red light for Machado
Her rival Maria Corina Machado won hands down the primaries of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) coalition, and seemed to be able to rally the entire opposition behind her.
But she was declared ineligible, accused by the authorities of corruption and of supporting a foreign invasion. Accusations that she has always denied.
To compensate for this ineligibility, on Friday she appointed an unknown person with the same first name to replace her: Corina Yoris, an 80-year-old philosopher and university professor.
PHOTO FEDERICO PARRA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Maria Corina Machado and Corina Yoris
“We will fight this fight together,” said Mme Machado, who will remain the face of the campaign.
However, the PUD has still not succeeded in registering Mme Yoris. Same observation for Manuel Rosales, governor of the oil state of Zulia, candidate for president in 2006 and who also aspires to confront Mr. Maduro.
Corina x 2
“#CorinaChallenge”, “Corina power 2”, “2 times Corina”… Social networks exploded after the announcement of the “Corinas”.
“It is an honor to be the “delegate candidate”. I hope that I will be able to respond to the trust placed in it,” declared Mr.me Yoris.
Many analysts believe that the government intends to favor a candidacy which for it does not present risks. He could therefore block the candidacy of Mme Yoris as he blocked M’sme Machado.
“The PUD holds permanent evaluation meetings,” said opponent Delsa Solorzano, without wanting to confirm that the opposition is looking for a plan C after plan B Yoris.
Access blocked
For the moment the opposition is coming up against an administrative wall.
“By not allowing me to register my candidacy for president, my rights as a Venezuelan citizen are being violated,” Ms.me Yoris, assuring that his team had physically gone to the CNE to try to resolve the situation.
All candidates must normally register in advance on the CNE website.
Many observers believe it is possible that the CNE will not accept a candidacy that could displease those in power.
For the moment, nine candidates who present themselves as opponents, but are considered by the opposition as “scorpions” collaborators of power, are registered. The opposition believes they are seeking to split votes in this single-round election. The final list of candidates will not be made public before the end of April.