Venezuela’s Opposition Unites Behind New Candidate in Presidential Race
In a surprising move, Venezuela’s embattled opposition announced on Friday that it has named a new candidate to challenge President Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming presidential elections. This decision comes after the country’s highest court barred the previous candidate, María Corina Machado, from running, raising concerns about the fairness of the election.
The new candidate, Corina Yoris, a philosophy professor, was chosen by leaders of several opposition parties to run in the elections scheduled for July 28. This move has been seen as a significant show of unity among the opposition, with analysts praising the decision as a step towards democracy.
“This is huge,” said Laura Dib, from the Washington Office on Latin America. “It is truly amazing to see the opposition united around a single strategy and showing that they are not backing off.”
The announcement comes after months of political turmoil in Venezuela, with Mr. Maduro signing an accord with the opposition last October to work towards a free and fair presidential vote. However, the disqualification of Ms. Machado and the subsequent arrests of her campaign members have raised doubts about the government’s commitment to a fair election process.
Ms. Machado, who won the opposition primary with over 90 percent of the vote, made the announcement alongside Ms. Yoris just days before the registration deadline. The move is seen as a strategic decision to ensure the opposition remains united in the face of government pressure.
“We are heading toward a transition path in Venezuela,” Ms. Yoris said. “We are all necessary at this moment.”
The government has questioned the legitimacy of the opposition primary and has taken legal action against its organizers. Despite these challenges, the opposition remains determined to challenge Mr. Maduro in the upcoming elections.
The appointment of Ms. Yoris as the new opposition candidate has injected new energy into the opposition movement, with hopes for a more democratic future in Venezuela.
