As Venezuela approaches its July 28 presidential election, the political climate has become increasingly volatile. President Nicolás Maduro has issued stark warnings of potential violence if he loses the election, threatening a ‘bloodbath’ and ‘civil war’. During a rally in Caracas, Maduro stated that the country will decide between ‘war or peace’ in the upcoming vote, emphasizing that his victory is necessary to prevent a ‘tragedy’ in the country.Meanwhile, the opposition continues to face mounting pressure and intimidation. María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader, reported that two of her vehicles were vandalized in Barquisimeto, with their oil drained and brake lines cut. Machado accused the government of being responsible for what she described as an attempt on her life. This incident follows the recent arrest of Machado’s security chief, Milciades Ávila, which the U.S. Department of State has criticized as going against the spirit of the October 2023 electoral agreement.Opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González condemned these actions, calling them ‘intolerable acts of cowardice that threaten the development of the electoral process’. González, who is leading in polls with over 50% support, now faces the risk of disqualification, mirroring Machado’s earlier exclusion from the race.The human rights organization Foro Penal has reported 102 political prisoners linked to the opposition campaign, while Machado stated that 72 people have been detained during the 13-day campaign period. These actions have raised serious concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election.Despite the increasing repression, Maduro insists that the elections will proceed as scheduled, stating that ‘no one will be able to sabotage them’. However, his threats of violence in the event of an opposition victory have been widely condemned, with many viewing them as an attempt to intimidate voters and opposition supporters.
Key points
- President Nicolás Maduro has threatened a ‘bloodbath’ and ‘civil war’ if he loses the July 28 election.
- Opposition leader María Corina Machado reported vandalism of her vehicles, which she describes as an attempt on her life.
- The opposition continues to face increasing pressure, with reports of 102 political prisoners linked to the campaign.
- Opposition candidate Edmundo González leads in polls but faces potential disqualification.
Contradictions👾While Maduro threatens violence if he loses, he also insists that the elections will proceed as scheduled and that ‘no one will be able to sabotage them’, which seems to contradict his warnings of potential civil war.
