July 28, 2024
Venezuelans went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the sixth presidential election since Hugo Chávez won the office in December 1998. In the past 25 years, the country has gone from a democracy, admittedly imperfect, to a military dictatorship. Nevertheless, the events of the day show the nation hasn’t given up hope that it might peacefully restore its freedom via the ballot box.
Dictator Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking a third term, seems to have other ideas. But what about the opposition? Will the nation defend its vote if he loses and refuses to recognize the result? How will the regime respond?
As we went to press, official results from the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council weren’t in. But turnout appeared to be especially high, suggesting that Democratic Unity Platform candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, the heavy favorite in polling, may have carried the day by a wide margin.
Officially Mr. Maduro, whose name and photo appeared 13 times on the ballot, faced nine challengers. But eight of them were there to help the regime confuse voters and split opposition support, an old and normally reliable regime trick. This time it may not work. For months, surveys of likely voters have had Mr. González Urrutia at least 20 points ahead of Mr. Maduro.
Opposition political parties, in the traditional sense, have largely been destroyed by the dictatorship. But individual leaders have emerged. These leaders formed the Democratic Unity Platform, bringing together the remnants of 10 parties, civil-society groups and other regime opponents. In October the charismatic Maria Corina Machado won the primary with more than 90% of the vote.
The dictatorship rightly fears Ms. Machado. Her bravery, commitment and rhetorical skills make her a formidable opponent. But the greatest danger she presents to the ruling elite is her ability and willingness to reach out to the Venezuelan poor, who have suffered the most from the poverty wrought by chavismo.
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Bugs Marlowe