Venezuela: Corina Machado Will Rival Maduro

Maria Corina Machado, a former conservative lawmaker, will challenge Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential elections.

Machado, along with the Vente Venezuela party she founded, “won” the right to challenge Maduro, getting 552,430 preferences, or 93% of the vote, the National Primary Commission (CNP) reported. Acción Democrática’s candidate Carlos Prosperi came in second with 28,153 votes, and Delsa Solórzano of Encuentro Ciudadano came in third with 4,565 votes.

The first primaries in 10 years helped determine the leader of the opposition. Last week, the government and the opposition agreed to organize new presidential elections next year. The presence of external and independent observers, including those from the UN and EU, was also agreed upon, after the 2018 vote, won by second-term President Nicolas Maduro who is in power since 2013, was disputed by the UN. The organization explained that the minimum requirements to qualify the elections as free were not met.

Then, with Donald Trump in the White House, US sanctions tightened. The concessions Maduro made to the opposition in recent weeks were aimed specifically at easing US measures that affected the export of hydrocarbons and gold. Indeed, last week Washington has loosened its grip. Maduro stated on this matter, “Let’s turn the page, let’s restore relations of respect and cooperation. Venezuela, thanks to these agreements and decisions taken, is entering the oil and gas market with renewed vigor, gradually returning to the market. To the United States I say: we have always wanted and still want the relations based on respect and diversity.”