Around 21 million Venezuelans will go to the polls today (28) to elect the next president, who will govern the South American country between 2025 and 2031. The current president, Nicolás Maduro, in power since 2013, faces nine competitors at the polls. 
Voters wait in line at a polling station in Caracas – REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/Reproduction prohibited
This is the first election since 2015 in which the entire opposition has agreed to participate in the election. Since 2017, the main opposition parties have been boycotting national elections.
Venezuela’s electoral polls disagree on the outcome of the presidential election. While some polls give the victory by a wide margin to the main opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, other surveys point to a victory for current president Nicolás Maduro, also with a comfortable margin.
>> Understand how the election in Venezuela works and what the criticisms are
Block
Venezuela has faced a financial and commercial blockade since at least 2017, when powers such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union began to not recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro government.
The neighboring country also went through a serious economic crisis during the period, with hyperinflation and a loss of around 75% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product, the sum of all goods and services produced in the country), which resulted in the migration of more than 7 million people.
Since mid-2021, the country has been showing some economic recovery. Hyperinflation was controlled, and the economy returned to growth in 2022 and 2023, however, wages remain low and public services deteriorated.
Since 2022, the economic embargo has been partially relaxed and an agreement between the opposition and the government was signed for this year’s elections. However, reports of arrests of opponents in recent days and refusals to sign an agreement to respect the election results by some opposition candidates, including the favorite Edmundo González, cast doubt on the day after the vote.
Sunday
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro votes during Sunday’s election – REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba/Reproduction prohibited
Earlier, President Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking re-election, voted in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. “I recognize the electoral referee. And everything the electoral referee says will be recognized. Not only recognized, but defended,” he told reporters before leaving the polling station.
*Article expanded at 10:38 am to include statement by President Nicolás Maduro
