Politics
Venezuelan opposition to elect new presidential candidate Oct. 22
The candidates seek to regain momentum after many futile attempts to defeat Nicolás Maduro amid an election system that has been widely accused of being unduly influenced by the communist regime
February 15, 2023 11:52am
Updated: February 16, 2023 8:19am
The Venezuelan opposition announced this Wednesday it will hold primary elections for a presidential candidate this October. It is the first time such an election has taken place since 2012, and the winner will face Chavismo leader Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential election.
Opposition candidates are seeking to regain momentum after failing to defeat Maduro in an election system widely accused of being unduly influenced by the communist regime.
Former opposition leader Juan Guaidó has not said whether if he will participate in the process, but he celebrated the announcement of the date "to reunify the country and that hope be reborn in Venezuela" on Twitter.
We took the first step!
October 22, 2023: date of the primary.
Date to reunify the country and hope is reborn in Venezuela.
You have the power so we can move forward together. pic.twitter.com/tUXm0qn52a
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 15, 2023
Despite being stripped of his leadership position by the anti-Chavista National Assembly in January, Guaidó was largely supportive of the process.
The main opposition groups in Venezuela refused to participate in the last elections because of due process and election integrity concerns, but they have since reached an agreement in which they hope to have fair elections.
In announcing the Oct. 22 election date, Jesús María Casal, Oresident of the National Commission of Primaries (CNP), said that now more than ever, there must be political and citizen unity.
#15F #LaPrimariaVa
— National Primary Commission VE (@cnprimariave) February 15, 2023
Everything is ready for the start of the @cnprimariave where the date of the opposition's primary election and governing process will be announced.
In minutes you will be able to watch the live broadcast through the IG account cnprimariave pic.twitter.com/PmVqUWKfwf
Former opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski, who almost defeated Hugo Chávez in 2012 and Nicolás Maduro in 2013, called on Venezuelans to support the new opposition primary process.
The Oct. 22 date comes nine months after several opposition political parties announced the creation of a coalition that will try, once again, to put an end to the regime.
