Maria Corina Machado swept the Venezuelan opposition primaries on October 22, with more than 90% of the votes, according to a preliminary bulletin. This is an unprecedented victory that exceeds even the most optimistic forecasts. The victory, expected, on the one hand, but at the same time extraordinary, opens a new chapter full of questions in the search for a viable electoral route in Venezuela. The testimonies of the voters showed a solid challenge to the authoritarian system that prevails in the South American country. However, Machado still must fight to have her disqualification lifted.
The National Primary Commission arrived on D-Day amid doubts, harassment campaigns, official censorship in radio media and threats. It was a process with many vulnerabilities that managed to be celebrated not only as a collateral benefit of the Barbados agreements, signed on October 17 by the opposition Unitary Platform and the Government of Nicolás Maduro; but also as a work of the organizations that were articulated to defend the right to choose of citizens, who more than responded to the call.
Machado’s victory is evidence that many things are changing in this country, among them, the very approach of the current winner. She, who endorsed extreme positions, entered the electoral lane, which seems to be the only reasonable path that citizens are willing to take. The overwhelming advantage, however, contains new challenges. Polls had shown that voters were willing to vote for disqualified candidates, however, this acclamation opens a big question: what will happen if, as has been allowed to happen, the Maduro Government does not allow him to register in the presidential election.
The result, which was announced in the early hours of October 23, after the Primary Commission had to deal with an attack on its totalization servers, seems to show that a break has occurred in Venezuela, on the one hand, and on the other hand, Machado has become a political phenomenon that cannot be dismissed so easily. According to Jesús Seguía, from the firm Datincorp, she managed to capitalize on national discontent and develop a magical connection with voters. She “she became a candidate who is of care for the Government. She is the only political leader in the country who has managed to take to the streets and excite the people and that, which is her greatest strength, is also her main obstacle because if she is enabled there is no doubt that she would sweep a presidential election and the Government of “Maduro is not prepared to hand over power, much less to her.”
For Carolina Jiménez, director of the Latin America Office in Washington, what is on the table in Venezuela is that a presidential electoral process implies respect for several fundamental rights, such as the right of every person to aspire to be elected to exercise a function. public, as well as the right of citizens to vote for the candidate of their choice. “A free and fair election requires those freedoms,” she explains.
In the Barbados agreements, the Maduro Government committed to promoting electoral guarantees, including the authorization of all presidential candidates and political parties, although in the text of the pact they use taglines such as “as long as they meet the established requirements to participate in the presidential election…”
In his victory speech, Machado temporarily removed fears about the possibility of calling for abstention or using other means than electoral means to dislodge Maduro. That is a great achievement. However, the ruling Chavismo needs to start thinking about how to respect an electoral process in which its stay in power is threatened. Once again, the citizens have the keys. The opposition primary event was an exercise in civil resistance, disobedience to authoritarianism and a clear message that the vote can be that great instrument of change. October 22, 2023 marks another time in Venezuela. If all actors with decision-making power understand the message sent by voters, the path can be less traumatic
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