July 28, 2024, 7:58 AM
July 28, 2024, 7:58 AM
Venezuela celebrates this Sunday (07.28.2024) The most momentous elections of the last decade in the country, in which 10 candidates will compete for the Presidency, among whom the choice will be made between the continuation of Chavismo, in power for 25 years, or a government of the opposite sign.
A few hours before the opening of the 15,767 polling stations, scheduled for 6:00 local time (10:00 GMT), Expectations are growing ahead of elections in which the majority opposition participates -with Edmundo González Urrutia as standard-bearer-, for the first time since the parliamentary elections of 2015, when it won.
In addition to the candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – the main anti-Chavez coalition – the current head of state is competing, Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking a third six-year term consecutive in power.
The more than 21 million registered voters will also be able to choose between the evangelical pastor Javier Bertucci, the comedian Benjamín Rausseo, the former mayors Daniel Ceballos and Claudio Fermín, Former councilor Antonio Ecarri, deputies Luis Eduardo Martínez and José Brito and the former electoral rector Enrique Márquez, the closest to the majority opposition.
Voting abroad
69,211 Venezuelans abroad will be able to participatea tiny fraction of the approximately 4 million of voting age and eligible to vote, drawn from the more than 7 million who emigrated, according to data from the UN Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants, a figure that the Government reduces to around 2 million.
Migrants will be able to vote in 104 diplomatic representations and Venezuelan consulates around the world, the president of the Political Participation and Financing Commission of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Aime Nogal, told EFE on Saturday.
Chavismo and the opposition called, repeatedly, to vote and to care for and defend each of the votes, which will define, according to the parties, the destiny of the country, still in crisis despite economic improvements in the last three years, which have not managed to stop migration.
The international community, which welcomes millions of Venezuelans, is closely watching this process, especially after an electoral campaign – which ended last Thursday, July 25 – with Multiple complaints from anti-Chavez supporters majority of arrests, obstacles and “threats”, among others.
Several countries in the region expressed their “concern” in this regard, as well as their desire for the electoral process to develop in a smooth manner. peaceful manner and that the result is respected by the parties.
Security
To ensure the security of the process, more than 388,000 members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and various State security forces have been deployed since Wednesday, July 24, in the country’s 335 municipalities.
In addition, some 700 officials from the Ombudsman’s Office will verify “the correct operation” of the voting machines and will ensure “the defense and surveillance” of the human rights of voters, while a total of 1,236 officials from the Prosecutor’s Office will be deployed to prevent, “if necessary”, any circumstance “to tarnish or hinder” the process.
On the other hand, since Friday, July 26, the “border movement of people and the passage of vehicles” at the accesses that link Venezuela with Colombia and Brazil is closed and “strict control” is applied at customs and air and sea entrances.
The measure came into effect at 00:00 local time on Friday (4:01 GMT) and will last until 8:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Monday, July 29, even though the joint resolution indicated that it would be in effect until 23:59 on Monday (3:59 GMT on Tuesday).
