Maria Corina Machado, a former lawmaker, is winning the vote by a big margin in the Venezuelan opposition’s primary election for president. She has said she won, but we’re still waiting for the final results.
The vote is to pick someone from the opposition to run against President Nicolas Maduro in the likely upcoming election. The United States said they might bring back some restrictions if the government doesn’t let certain opposition leaders hold positions. Machado has a big lead with 93% of the votes counted so far. She said she’s starting a big movement for change in Venezuela and is grateful for the support. She’s ready to take on the responsibility that comes with this mandate.
The count was delayed because of a problem with the computer system. They expected to start counting again later on Monday, but they didn’t know when they would give the next update.
Machado’s closest competitor, former lawmaker Carlos Prosperi, had 4.75% of the votes.
More people voted than they thought would in some places, even though the government didn’t help organize the vote. Venezuela has about 20 million people who can vote.
Places where people voted, like houses and street corners, were supposed to close at 4 p.m. (2000 GMT). But many stayed open for hours longer so people in long lines could vote or so they could bring more ballots.
Some of the 3,000 places where people voted had to be moved, which made things confusing, according to human rights groups and voters.
People also had trouble getting to the polls. There wasn’t enough gasoline in border states Tachira and Bolivar, and public transportation in the middle of the country was not working well, according to people who saw it happen.
“On Friday, we waited in three lines just to get enough gasoline for today, but we couldn’t,” said Melissa Diaz, a 39-year-old woman who takes care of her house. She went to her polling place in eastern Guyana City with almost no gas left.
“We lost a whole day, but even if we had to walk or ride a bike, we were going to vote.”
Machado still barred from office
Machado, who is 56 years old and works as an engineer, has been ahead of her opponents by about 40 points in polls.
However, Machado, along with two others who were competing against her but dropped out, cannot hold public positions because they supported sanctions against Maduro’s government. This means they can’t sign up for the main election.
The opposition and the government recently made an agreement about certain election rules, like having international observers present. Both sides can pick their candidate using their own rules, but the ban on some candidates for the election still stands.
The United States, after easing some of the restrictions placed by Trump on Venezuelan oil, gas, and bonds, gave Maduro a deadline until the end of November to start lifting the bans and releasing political prisoners and Americans who are held without reason.
Although five people were set free, the main negotiator for the government, Jorge Rodriguez, confirmed this week that those who are disqualified still can’t run in the 2024 competition, which is scheduled for the second half of the year.
Some skeptical of deal
Some people in the opposition doubt that Maduro will actually follow through with the agreement.
The opposition believes that the bans on some candidates are not fair. They haven’t said what they would do if Machado wins the primary but can’t compete in 2024.
Machado’s main goal is to remove Maduro through a fair and peaceful vote. She says she would push the electoral authorities to let her sign up. Maduro hasn’t confirmed yet if he will run again, but many think he will.
Some argue that picking a backup candidate might be needed. However, it’s uncertain if the often divided opposition would agree if Machado chose a replacement.
In the primary, ten candidates are competing and they’ve promised to find solutions for the country’s long-lasting economic crisis.
Rosimar Gonzalez, a 20-year-old hairdresser, shared, “If you buy diapers, you can’t buy food, so I buy food and not diapers.” She voted in central Maracay with her young son in her arms.
“We need a new president.”
Around 4 million out of the 7.7 million Venezuelans who left their country can vote in 28 countries.
“I voted because I want to hug my grandchildren again, and I want to see my country moving towards freedom before I pass away,” said Armando Cedeno, who is 100 years old and teary-eyed. He voted in the afternoon in Maracaibo.
“I believe that God will grant me that wish.”
SOURCE:FRANCE24