World closely watches Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela

WASHINGTON — As Venezuelans prepare to cast their ballots Sunday in the presidential election, officials at the U.S. State Department said they will be closely following the activities of July 28 — a day they described as “a historic moment for Venezuela as the nation has endured significant political and economic turmoil over the past two decades.”

The ballot this year also serves as a referendum on “socialism for the 21st century," the ideological view that has ruled the country since Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999, and a vision that has been maintained by his successor, Nicolas Maduro, since 2013.

This has left a population struggling to access medicine, food and a sense of security, according to the most recent Gallup analysis.

According to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Venezuela suffers from one of the highest rates of undernourishment in South America, and 68% of the people struggle to afford food — the highest percentage across Latin America — reports Gallup.

A senior U.S. administration official, who briefed reporters Friday on condition of anonymity according to normal practice, expressed hope for a free and democratic process in Venezuela, recognized the voters’ enthusiasm across the country and denounced the obstacles the opposition has faced.

This includes the detention of opposition political candidates and their staffers — including powerhouse opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned by the government from running for office. The official also highlighted how opposition groups have now unified behind a single candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

As Machado was sidelined on the official registry, she doubled down on her campaign efforts to promote Gonzalez Urrutia around the country and thousands of people have come to meet her.

“She is moving the political capital to support the registered candidate, for him to be able to obtain the percentage needed at the urns [ballot boxes] and therefore reach victory,” Luis Salamanca, an associate professor in political science at Central University of Venezuela, told VOA.

A senior U.S. administration official described the unification of Venezuelan opposition groups as “unprecedented unity among opposition leaders” and added that it “is a testament to their resilience and their determination to [provide] Venezuelans with a genuine choice in Sunday's election.”

The United States supported negotiations last year that ended with the Barbados Agreement in October 2023. In it, the opposition and representatives of Maduro’s government outlined steps to “reopen the political process in Venezuela and to allow Venezuelans a real chance to have a say and a vote in their future,” explained a senior U.S. administration official to reporters during the briefing call.

The official noted that the government “failed to implement several of their commitments” but added, “Maduro authorities did uphold their commitment to set an electoral timeline and to hold this election.”

International leaders have made calls to Maduro’s government in efforts to protect the rights of the voters to vote safely without intimidation or manipulation of the results.

“Their votes must be accurately and transparently counted in the presence of witnesses as underscored in Venezuelan law,” a senior U.S. administration official said, adding that “the international community will be watching closely” and urged all parties to honor their commitments and respect the democratic process.

Amid questions about the transparency of the process, however, the senior U.S. administration official was clear that the “U.S. won’t prejudge the outcome of the election and recognize[d] this is a crucial choice for Venezuelans to make.”

According to the United Nations, Venezuela is facing a humanitarian crisis with nearly 8 million people taking refuge in other countries. The U.N. refugee agency says some 2,000 people flee Venezuela every day, displaced because of rising crime and violence and shortages of food, medicine and essential services. Many citizens see this election as a possibility for change.

In the campaign's final hours, as the country prepares to vote, each candidate made closing remarks. “You have given me the strength and courage to face what without a doubt has been the most unequal electoral campaign, in the history of the electoral process in Venezuela,” said Gonzalez Urrutia.

Maduro, who called himself “Gallo Pinto,” or the spotted rooster, while campaigning, said, “I’m the guaranty of peace and stability, as well as changes and transformations to move forward.”

That was Maduro’s message after he called the media “sicarios,” or “hitmen of lies,” accusing reputable international press agencies, such as The Associated Press, of censoring and manipulating information about his campaign.

As the election comes to its final stretch, the senior U.S. administration officials reiterated the challenges that Venezuela continues to face, saying, “There are a number of other issues and concerns that we have. There have been over 100 opposition and civil society figures arrested since the beginning of the year, and more than 30 of them are still being held at this moment.

“The broader issues of respect for human rights are also something that will continue as a key issue after Sunday.”

The official avoided talk of sanctions or a planned response to possible fraud allegations and declined to comment on “hypothetical scenarios” but was clear the U.S. “hope[s] that we will be able to move toward a better relationship” with Venezuela and offered U.S. support in the transition process for the winner, who is scheduled to assume power in January 2025.