Maduro registers candidacy to seek third term in Venezuela and stay in power for 18 years

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás MaduroThis Monday, with great fanfare, he formalized his candidacy for re-election before the electoral authority, accused of serving Chavismo and mounting a siege to prevent the nomination of the opposition coalition led by María Corina Machado.

Elections were called for July 28 and Maduro aspires to a third term which projects him to 18 years in power.

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The president arrived in National Electoral Council (CNE) in a red SUV, accompanied by thousands of militants, summoned by the government Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) from across the country.

A person holds up a sign with a drawing of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a demonstration by supporters of the ruling party. (EFE/Miguel Gutiérrez). (Miguel Gutiérrez/)

“I was moved by so much generosity and recognition from the people towards this humble man from the neighborhoods of Caracas, this humble worker”, express Mature61 years old, who carried an illustration with the hero’s faces Simon Bolivar and its predecessor, Hugo Chavez, in coal.

“Today I came not only to write my name, but to write a dream for the country”, he continued, to applause.. “I came to invite you to continue dreaming and to continue transforming our reality forward, towards the future.”

Another dozen groups have already formalized their support for the president.

“Nicolás is hope, he is the continuity of a project that commander Hugo Chávez started”Pedro Mata, 52 years old, told AFP. “He is the only president of vulnerable people,” said Yelitza Blanco, 53, while holding a “Super Mustache” doll, an advertising character that shows the president as a superhero.

The first vice-president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, shows the document with which he registered the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, as a candidate for the presidential elections on July 28. (EFE/ Rayner Peña R.). (Rayner Peña R./)

The time is ending

The registration period ends at midnight on Monday and the opposition has not yet managed to register any candidate.

Registration is done through a website, which the two opposition parties –MUDthe old covenant that replaced the current one Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD)It is A new time– I still haven’t been able to access to register Corina Yorisappointed by Ax after his exclusion due to a veto from holding public office.

“We made every attempt to enter the data” and “the system is completely closed”, denounced Yoris. at a press conference Monday morning. “We tried to go to the CNE until I delivered the letter requesting the extension and we couldn’t even do it physically.”

Philosopher and university professor, Yoris, 80 years old, has never worked in public administration and her name appears clean in the database of CNE.

Website blocking goes beyond the technical and becomes political. Jorge Morán, political scientist and university professor, explained to AFP that Chavismo seeks to repeat the scenario of 2018, when the opposition marginalized itself and called for abstention in the presidential elections, which Maduro won amid allegations of fraud.

“The government wants and needs to win the elections without having to resort to massive fraud or even a process that raises doubts,” he stated.

“Potable” candidate

Analysts rule out candidacy Yorisand talk about looking for a “potent” candidate for Chavismo, less linked to Ax.

Some estimate that Manuel Rosalesgovernor of the oil state Zulia and leader of UNTcould end up being the candidate.

“The government would accept your candidacy”, said political analyst María Alexandra Semprún. “He is capable of negotiating exits.”

The consensus is, however, that any registered name must have the support of Ax.

If the PUD able to access and register a candidate, the system will issue a report that will be presented to the CNEwho has the final say after the deadlines for contesting applications

Since Thursday, nine candidates have been registered and, although they present themselves as opponents, they are branded “scorpions”, a term coined in Venezuela to designate government collaborators.

Source: Elcomercio