Venezuela’s presidential election campaign officially kicked off on July 4, 2024, with incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia holding rallies in various cities across the country. Maduro launched his re-election bid with a massive rally in Zulia state, emphasizing economic recovery and criticizing the opposition. He promised a ‘miracle’ economic recovery, citing a prophecy by Christian pastors that the country will experience seven years of prosperity.Meanwhile, the opposition, led by González and supported by María Corina Machado, organized a caravan through several states, promising change and freedom for Venezuela. Despite Machado being disqualified from running, she continues to campaign and has gained widespread support.The campaign is marked by allegations of persecution and detentions of opposition figures, with reports of around 40 political and social activists arrested this year. The government, in turn, accuses the opposition of conspiring against Maduro and planning ‘terrorist acts’.Most polls show the opposition leading in voting intentions, but the government dismisses these predictions. Maduro has intensified his campaign efforts, touring 70 cities and making numerous TV appearances.The election, scheduled for July 28, 2024, has raised international concerns about its legitimacy. The United States and other countries have expressed worries, while neighboring Brazil and Colombia have called for the vote to be free and recognized.The campaign has also highlighted Venezuela’s economic crisis, with Maduro promising recovery after a decade that saw the country’s GDP contract by 80% and led to the exodus of seven million Venezuelans, according to UN figures.
Key points
- Venezuela’s presidential campaign officially began on July 4, 2024, with rallies by both Maduro and the opposition.
- Maduro promises economic recovery, while the opposition, led by González and Machado, campaigns for change and freedom.
- The campaign is marked by allegations of persecution and detentions of opposition figures, raising international concerns about the election’s legitimacy.
- Most polls show the opposition leading, but the government dismisses these predictions.
Contradictions👾While most polls show the opposition leading, Maduro claims widespread support and dismisses these predictions.
👾The government accuses the opposition of conspiring and planning ‘terrorist acts’, while the opposition alleges persecution and detentions by the government.
