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2018 Venezuelan presidential election

April 27, 2024

Presidential elections were held in Venezuela on 20 May 2018,[2] with incumbent Nicolás Maduro being declared re-elected for a second six-year term.[3] The original electoral date was scheduled for December 2018 but was subsequently pulled ahead to 22 April before being pushed back to 20 May.[4][5][6] Some analysts described the poll as a sham election,[7][8] as many prominent opposition parties had been barred from participating in it. The elections had the lowest voter turnout in Venezuela's democratic era.[3][9]

2018 Venezuelan presidential election
← 2013 20 May 2018 (2018-05-20) 2024 →
Turnout 46.07% (per the National Electoral Council)[1]
 
Candidate Nicolás Maduro Henri Falcón Javier Bertucci
Party PSUV Progressive Advance El Cambio
Alliance GPP — —
Popular vote 6,248,864 1,927,958 989,761
Percentage 67.85% 20.93% 10.75%
Percentages of vote for Maduro by state

Several Venezuelan NGOs, such as Foro Penal, Súmate, Voto Joven, the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and the Citizen Electoral Network expressed their concern over the irregularities of the electoral schedule, including the lack of the Constituent Assembly's competencies to summon the elections, impeding participation of opposition political parties, and the lack of time for standard electoral functions.[10] Because of this, the European Union,[11][12] the Organization of American States, the Lima Group and countries including Australia and the United States rejected the electoral process.[13][14] However, countries including Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Palestine, Russia, Syria, Turkey and others recognized the election result.[15]

The two leading candidates opposing Maduro, Henri Falcón and Javier Bertucci, rejected the results, saying that the election was critically flawed by irregularities. Bertucci asked that the elections be repeated with Maduro being disqualified.[16][17] Maduro was inaugurated on 10 January 2019, leading to a presidential crisis.[18]

Background edit

Further information: Crisis in Venezuela (2012–present)
 
A man eating from garbage due to food shortages in Venezuela

Following the death of President Hugo Chávez in 2013, Venezuela faced a severe socioeconomic crisis during the presidency of his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Due to the country's high levels of urban violence, inflation, and chronic shortages of basic goods attributed primarily to the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolívar and to some extent due to economic policies such as strict price controls, civil insurrection in Venezuela culminated in the 2014–18 protests. Protests occurred periodically over the years, with demonstrations occurring in various sizes depending on the events Venezuelans were facing during the crisis.

 
A 26 October 2016 protest that gathered an estimated 1.2 million Venezuelans following the cancellation of recalling President Maduro

After facing years of crisis, the Venezuelan opposition pursued a recall referendum against President Maduro, presenting a petition to the National Electoral Council (CNE) on 2 May 2016.[19]

By August 2016, the momentum to recall President Maduro appeared to be progressing, with the CNE setting a date for the second phase of collecting signatures, though it made the schedule strenuous, stretching the process into 2017 which made it impossible for the opposition to activate new presidential elections.[20]

On 21 October 2016, the CNE suspended the referendum days before preliminary signature-gatherings were to be held.[21] The CNE blamed several irregularities and alleged voter fraud as the reason for the cancellation of the referendum.[21] International observers criticized the move, stating that CNE's decision made Maduro look as if he were seeking to rule as a dictator.[22][23]

Days after the recall movement was cancelled, 1.2 million Venezuelans protested throughout the country against the move, demanding that President Maduro leave office, with Caracas protests remaining calm while protests in other states resulted in clashes between demonstrators and authorities, leaving one policeman dead, 120 injured, and 147 arrested.[24] That day the opposition gave President Maduro a deadline of 3 November 2016 to hold elections, with opposition leader Henrique Capriles stating, "Today we are giving a deadline to the government. I tell the coward who is in Miraflores ... that on 3 November the Venezuelan people are coming to Caracas because we are going to Miraflores".[24]

David Vallenilla being shot dead by Venezuelan authorities during the 2017 Venezuelan protests

On 1 November 2016, then National Assembly President and opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup announced the cancellation of 3 November march to the Miraflores presidential palace, with Vatican-led dialogue between the opposition and the government beginning.[25] By 7 December 2016, dialogue halted between the two.[26] Two months later, on 13 January 2017 after talks stalled, the Vatican officially pulled out of the dialogue.[27] On 23 January 2017, Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate, declared: "This will be the last conventional protest; the next one will be a surprise one".[28] The opposition then began to focus on its electoral efforts, with only sporadic protests occurring for the next few months.

Following the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis, protests in Venezuela intensified in mid-2017, though the movement died down after President Maduro called for a controversial special election, which resulted with the installation of the pro-government superbody, the Constituent National Assembly. Regional elections that occurred months later further cemented the government's power after they won 18 of the 23 governorships.

Election preparations edit

After the government overcame mass protests and won two major disputed elections, one of which installed a constitutional superbody, the government rallied behind President Maduro, with government sources stating that elections were to be moved ahead to February or March 2018 instead of the planned late-2018 date to take advantage of their electoral momentum.[29] On 11 December 2017, President Maduro announced that many of the main opposition parties, including Justice First and Popular Will, would be banned from participating in the 2018 presidential election for abstaining to participate in the 2017 municipal elections.[30]

In February 2018, the government announced that elections would be held on 22 April 2018, less than three months before the date.[4] Popular Will announced on 16 February that it would boycott the elections.[31] Following weeks of controversy involving international condemnation and rejection of potential election results, the CNE delayed the election for a few additional weeks pushing for a 20 May 2018 election date.[6]

Electoral system edit

See also: Elections in Venezuela § Polling procedure

The President of Venezuela is elected by plurality in a single round of voting.[32]

The elections were overseen by the National Electoral Council, with poll workers drafted via a lottery of registered voters. Polling places were equipped with multiple high-tech touch-screen DRE voting machines. After the vote is cast, each machine prints out a paper ballot, or VVPAT, which is inspected by the voter and deposited in a ballot box belonging to the machine's table. The voting machines perform in a stand-alone fashion, disconnected from any network until the polls close.[33] Voting session closure at each of the voting stations in a given polling center is determined either by the lack of further voters after the lines have emptied, or by the hour, at the discretion of the president of the voting table.[citation needed]

After the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees was signed on 1 March by the political parties Great Patriotic Pole, Movimiento al Socialismo, Avanzada Progresista, and COPEI, the United Nations was asked, with a formal invitation and visit by the main candidates or their representatives, to send a delegation to monitor the election. The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposed UN electoral observation in Venezuela.[34] In the end, the UN refused to send a mission.[35][36]

The Carter Center turned down Maduro's invitation to send an observation team on election day, as did other election observing institutions.[37]

Smartmatic, the electoral product company which had participated in the majority of elections under the Bolivarian government, ceased operations in its native country in March 2018, stating that they could not guarantee the validity of election results through its machines.[38]

The election was mainly observed by allies of the Venezuelan government after many international bodies decided that there were no democratic guarantees in the country; the United Nations declined the invitation to monitor the election,[36] after members of the opposition asked the UN not to send observers.[39] On 23 March 2018 a United Nations official informed that the organization would not offer electoral assistance in the elections, without explaining the motives. Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that a letter was sent to Venezuelan authorities regarding the request of electoral experts, but did not explain the content.[40] These observers included the Latin American Council on Electoral Experts, Common Frontiers, Unifor, former Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and former President of Ecuador Rafael Correa.[41]

Primary process edit

Opposition edit

 
March in support of the candidacy of Lorenzo Mendoza on 15 January 2018

In March 2017, parties of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), the opposition's main electoral alliance, began discussion on who would be their candidate for the 2018 presidential elections. On 14 March 2017, Popular Will announced that Leopoldo López, the party's National Coordinator who is currently imprisoned for his role in the 2014 protests against the Bolivarian government, was chosen to be their candidate for the MUD primaries.[42]

Days later, on 20 March 2017, Justice First chose Henrique Capriles Radonski to be their candidate for the primaries, his third run for the presidency, with his previous attempts occurring in the 2012 and 2013 presidential elections.[43] On 21 March 2017, veteran politician Henry Ramos Allup was chosen to be the candidate for the Democratic Action.[44]

In February 2018, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) announced that it would boycott the presidential election, saying the electoral system was rigged in favor of incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.[45]

Opinion polls

On 5 May 2018, a poll by DolarToday showed that if the elections were held on that date, 45% of the participants would give their opposition vote for Lorenzo Mendoza, CEO of Empresas Polar, 24% for Leopoldo López, 12% for María Corina Machado, 9% for Henry Ramos Allup, 7% for Henrique Capriles, and 3% for Henri Falcón.[46]

Opinion polls
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Capriles Ramos López Others /
Independent 		Undecided /
Don't know
Venebarametro[47] 23 October—7 November 2017 889 12.6% 7.3% 23.8% 47.3% 9.0%
Hercon[48] 20–29 August 2017 1,200 16.2% 8.1% 20.3% 16.4% 39.0%
Hercon[49] 15–30 April 2017 1,200 25.1% 29.5% – 4.9% 16.5%
Datanalisis[50] 29 November–12 December 2016 1,200 16.9% 4.7% 21.2% 1.0% 18.5%
Hercon[51] 25 September–10 October 2016 1,200 25.8% 33.6% – – 40.5%
Datanalisis[52] July 2015 1,000 17.3% – 25.2% 12.7% 12.6%
Datanalisis[53] January–February 2015 1,000 17.4% – 20.0% 17.3% 16.6%

Disqualifications edit

The majority of popular leaders of the MUD and other members of the opposition could not apply for the elections because of administrative and legal procedures and were disqualified from participating in the presidential elections by the government. This included Henrique Capriles (candidate in the 2012 and 2013 elections), Leopoldo López (sentenced to almost 14 years of prison during the 2014 protests), Antonio Ledezma (arrested in 2015 and later placed under house arrest), Freddy Guevara (whose parliamentary immunity was removed and fled to the residence of the Chilean ambassador), and David Smolansky (currently in exile), as well as María Corina Machado and Miguel Rodríguez Torres, former defense minister and dissident chavista, also incarcerated.[54] On 5 April 2017, the Comptroller General of Venezuela notified Capriles that for 15 years, he would be prevented from participating in public office, alleging without offering proof that he misused public funds as governor, a charge that Capriles denied.[55]

The main opposition political parties were disqualified after they were forced to reregister themselves for a second time in less than a year by the National Electoral Council (CNE) after not participating in the 2017 municipal elections. The parties Popular Will and Puente refused to do so, while the CNE prevented Justice First; only the party Acción Democrática was revalidated.[56] In late January 2018, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice blocked the revalidation of the Democratic Unity Roundtable card, the most voted in the electoral history of the country, and was also banned.[56][57] Finally, Justice First was disqualified weeks later from the presidential race in early February 2018, leaving only Democratic Action and other minor opposition parties.[58]

The actions by the government cleared the path for Henry Ramos Allup and his Democratic Action to gain popularity in the presidential elections. After many other opposition parties were disqualified, President Maduro singled out Ramos Allup and stated that he would run against him.[59]

PSUV edit

Due to the perceived unpopularity of President Nicolás Maduro within the PSUV, it was speculated that potential candidates would include former National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, Vice President Tareck El Aissami, and National Constituent Assembly President Delcy Rodríguez.[60] However, Maduro was eventually chosen to run as the party's presidential candidate.[when?]

Candidates edit

Maduro edit

Main article: 2018 Nicolás Maduro presidential campaign
 
Nicolás Maduro's presidential campaign logo

Nicolás Maduro, the successor of Hugo Chávez who assumed and was elected to the presidency in 2013, ran for re-election. Maduro has denied that there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and says that Venezuelans dying from poor health is "exaggerated", blaming many shortcomings on the United States.[61] Maduro made the campaign promise of creating a "new economy" in Venezuela.[62]

The Bolivarian government also increased spending on populist policies during the campaign to help sway voters to support Maduro.[63] Analysts suggested that those policies would further exacerbate the negative effects of the crisis in Venezuela.[63]

Falcón edit

 
Campaign posters of Falcón in Caracas

Henri Falcón is a former governor of Lara who left PSUV in 2010 and founded the party Progressive Advance in 2012, which was affiliated to the Democratic Unity Roundtable until 2018. His political positioning was seen by some as a good way to govern from a position between the government and the opposition, though some Chavistas believe he is a "traitor" while some in the opposition think he is an infiltrator.[64] Falcón was officially nominated as a presidential candidate by the Movement for Socialism on 26 February 2018.[65]

Bertucci edit

 
Wall paintings supporting Bertucci's campaign in Altamira, Caracas, along with a "no voto" (I don't vote) graffiti.

Javier Bertucci, an evangelical pastor, announced his candidacy on 18 February 2018.[66] He emphasized bringing back the "values" of Venezuelans, stating that his church has cared for the poor in Venezuela.[67] Bertucci is against abortion and believes same-sex partners should not adopt children, stating, "I respect and love any person who has a different sexual orientation, but in a legal sense, I would have to tell them categorically that I would never support this".[67] However, Bertucci has said that despite his "absolutely conservative" values, he would hold a referendum on whether to legalize abortion and same-sex marriage, claiming that he would support the decisions of the people, "even those contrary to Christianity".[68] Bertucci was one of the Venezuelan businessmen involved in the Panama Papers leak.[69] On 18 February actress Diosa Canales expressed she was against the elections, but supported Bertucci's candidacy.[70]

Quijada edit

Reinaldo Quijada an electrical engineer who follows the chavista movement, stated he would take up the "revolutionary process" in his campaign and that "we are certainly opposed to the government of President Maduro, we are certainly opposed to the PSUV, but we are not opposed to the revolutionary process".[71]

Ratti edit

Luis Alejandro Ratti is a chavista businessman and evangelical pastor. He was formerly part of the Hugo Chávez Bolivarian Front until he broke ranks with the Maduro government. During his campaign, Ratti stated he would "represent the people with chivalry, bravery, and without fear, guaranteeing that they are going to have a different path than the last twenty years".[62] After withdrawing from the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees on 30 April, he announced his exit from the presidential race on 8 May and threw his support behind Henri Falcón.[72]

Campaign edit

 
Two campaign billboards in Caracas of Nicolás Maduro and Henri Falcón.

On 2 April 2018, Falcón's security adviser Colonel Teodoro Campos was attacked by pro-government colectivos, with a head wound that left the deputy severely injured and later had him placed in an intensive care unit where he was intubated and placed on a ventilator.[73]

CNE president Tibisay Lucena announced on 12 April that the political parties and individuals that promote abstention will be sanctioned.[74] The campaign for the presidential elections and the legislative councils started on 22 April and ended on 17 May midnight.[75] In late April, Maduro visited the state of Bolivar and stated that this "is a new beginning to get 10 million votes" and that "love will overcome May 20 over the lies, of manipulation and economic warfare".[citation needed]

On 24 April, during a campaign event in Carabobo state, Nicolás Maduro declared that during the electoral campaign, the government would call on all Venezuelans with the Carnet de la Patria to look after votes, assured that the closer they get to 10 million votes, "the more guarantee of peace, of stability" and of "economic recovery" there would be. Maduro called Henri Falcón "Faltrump" due to his dollarization proposal and labeled Javier Bertucci as "Little Soup Bertucci", referring to his charity activities of delivering soup to impoverished Venezuelans.[76]

Bertucci denounced that his campaign manager in Sucre state, Ángel Arias, was shot in the stomach on 27 April while making preparations for a midday speech scheduled in Cumaná. According to a press release of Bertucci's party, a 25-year-old man shot Arias after trying to steal his cellphone; the robber did not achieve his mission and fled by motorcycle, leaving the manager at the scene. Aria was moved to a health center to be attended to his wounds.[77]

I would take a rifle to start the armed revolution. This people will never stand a sellout and capitalist government, that is why we have to prepare ourselves to defend in peace the sovereignty and democracy of Venezuela

Nicolás Maduro

On 1 May, in Cojedes state, Maduro threatened taking action against supermarkets and food centers nationwide if they increased the prices of products in the following days, declaring that after the 20 May election "I'll be president anyway...by hook or by crook"".[78][79] On 2 May, Maduro warned in a campaign rally in Vargas state that if a "capitalist government" that handed over the country's resources were to be installed, he would take up arms himself to defend the revolution, stating "I would take a rifle to start the armed revolution. These people will never stand for a sellout and capitalist government, that is why we have to prepare ourselves to defend in peace the sovereignty and democracy of Venezuela",[80] On 18 May, Maduro stated "Venezuela has become the focus and the elections in a world election ... I will accept the results, whatever they are".[citation needed] He said that his opponent Henri Falcón was the International Monetary Fund's candidate. Maduro affirmed not to care about the position of the countries that declared that they will dismiss the presidential elections, saying "What fuck do I give that Europe does not recognize me, that Washington does not recognize me. I care about what the Venezuelan people say".[81]

On 11 May President Maduro said, during a campaign rally in Trujillo state, "Imperialism, go fuck yourself with your orders because here in Venezuela the sovereign people rules".[82] Before a campaign rally in Charallave on 15 May 2018, President Maduro's group handed out free mangoes to supporters suffering from hunger who had arrived at the event.[83] On 16 May President Maduro said that he foresaw a "great victory" and accused the US and France of trying to "put pressure on the country" to overthrow his government, saying "The Ku Klux Klan of Washington is pursuing us". Maduro also blamed Venezuela's economic difficulties on "the economic forces of the United States" and the "oligarchy that did not conform when it lost political power".[citation needed]

On 17 May the campaign closure rally of Nicolás Maduro took place on Bolívar Avenue in Caracas. During his speech of the campaign closure, Maduro expressed that Bolívar Avenue was "overwhelmed", but Winston Vallenilla once asked the assistants to come closer to fill the empty spaces and publications on social networks of deputy Luis Florido and other persons refuted the claim.[84][85][86] Argentine former football player Diego Maradona and former reality star Tila Tequila participated and danced in the rally.[87][88] The same day Bertucci condemned the international sanctions against Venezuela saying, "How can they ask for sanctions against the country. Oh, it is easy. They are abroad eating well, sleeping well, living in luxurious homes. Asking for the United States government to tighten sanctions, and to tighten the noose on the Venezuelan people. I think that is irresponsible. That's not what we need."[citation needed] A Venezuelan in Rome published a video explaining that he found a large painting on a wall promoting the vote for Maduro and complaining that the country's money is wasted on placing said messages abroad.[89]

Demonstrations edit

On 16 May the opposition and dissident chavismo called for a protest to reject the elections. The demonstrators marched to the seat of the Organization of American States in Caracas. In the morning officials of the Bolivarian National Police with anti-riot equipment forced the protesters in the Brión Square [es] in Chacao to leave, arguing they did not have permission to meet in the public space. The Caracas Metro staff closed the Chacaíto station before the demonstration started as a security measure, as they informed in the loudspeakers to the users. Politicians such as Delsa Solórzano, Juan Requesens, Ivlev Silva and Andrés Velásquez participated.[90][91]

Opinion polls edit

 
Empty polling station in Caracas on election day

In a January 2018 poll surrounding the presidential election, Meganalisis stated that only 29% of respondents desired to vote in the elections and 72.5% stated that they did not trust the CNE electoral body. Those who chose not to vote had various reasons; 45% believed that even if they voted, hunger would continue, 20% believed it was a "waste of time", and 13% believed that the opposition had betrayed the country. As for the support of political parties, 81% stated that they were not part of any party, 12% were part of the government PSUV party, and 6% supported the opposition-led MUD.[92][93]

According to Meganálisis, an April 2018 poll found that 65.4% of respondents believed that Falcón was working in collaboration with President Maduro to create the fraudulent appearance of a legitimate democratic election.[94] Falcón disputes this, however, stating that "electoral boycotts almost never work. In country after country, opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power."[95]

Presidential election

Date(s) conducted Pollster Sample size Maduro Falcón Bertucci Quijada Ratti Others None/Undecided Lead
10–16 May 2018 Varianzas 1000 23.7% 32.2% 14.8% – Retired 0.8% 28.5% 8.5%
9–16 May 2018 Hercon 1000 28.7% 38.1% 9.3% 0.4% Retired 1.4% 22.1% 9.4%
8–15 May 2018 Datanalisis – 20% 33% 18% – Retired – – 13%
10 May 2018 Datanalisis 1,000 16.7% 27.6% 13.3% 0.2% 0.2% 4.7% 19.7% 11.1%
20 Apr – 4 May 2018 ICS[permanent dead link] 3,000 55.9% 25.4% 16.2% - - – - 30.5%
2–18 Apr 2018 Hinterlaces 1,050 51% 28% 16% - - – 5% 23.0%
18 April 2018 Meganalisis 1,050 15.3% 6.2% 0.9% 0.07% 0.05% – 77.1% 61.8%
11 April 2018 Datanalisis – 32.0% 37.0% 14.0% – – – 17.0% 5.0%
9 April 2018 1,996 22.0% 34.0% 9% - - 2.0% 33.0% 12.0%
8 April 2018 Datanalisis 800 34.0% 40.0% – – – – – 6.0%
5 March 2018 Datanalisis – 28% 39% 19% - - - - 11%
19–29 Mar 2018 Datanalisis 800 34.3% 41.4% - - - – - 7.1%
27 Feb–4 Mar 2018 Meganalisis 1,090 13.7% 3.5% 0.03% 0.05% 0.01% – 82.5% 68.8%
19 February 2018 Datincorp 1,499 28.0% 31.0% - - - 31.0% 10.0% 3.0%
1–14 Feb 2018 1,000 26.1% 38.0% - - - 40.4%
(Leopoldo López)		 – 2.1%
24 Jan–13 Feb 2018 Hercon 1,200 19.5% 6.9% - - - 21.0%
(Lorenzo Mendoza)		 26.8% 5.8%
8 February 2018 – 32% 10.5% - - - 25% 24.7% 21.5%
25 Jan–5 Feb 2018 Ivad 1,200 17.6% 23.6% - - - 13.5% 10.6% 6.0%
22–27 Jan 2018 Meganalisis 1,120 9.4% - - - - 28.7%
(Lorenzo Mendoza)		 52.3% 23.6%
Date(s) conducted Pollster Sample size MUD GPPSB AP Others Undecided Lead
26 January 2018 MUD disqualified
10 January 2018 Datincorp 1,009 55% 21% - - 4% 34.0%
10 January 2018 Datincorp 1,009 59% 19% – - – 40.0%
14 December 2017 - 52.8% 27.7% – - 10.6% 25.1%
7 December 2017 Venebarometro 1,200 46.3% 28.6% – - 25.1% 17.7%
10 Nov–23 Nov 2017 Datanalisis 997 44.4% 9.0% – - - 35.4%
20–29 Aug 2017 Hercon 1,200 56.1% 15.6% - 3.3% 25.1% 40.5%
10–17 May 2017 UCV 1,200 52% 14% - 22% 12% 38%
28 Jan–8 Feb 2017 Venebarometro 1,200 44.8% 25.8% - 23.4% 6.1% 29.0%
20 Jan–6 Feb 2017 Hercon 1,200 55.4% 19.9% - 16.0% 8.6% 35.5%
29 Nov–12 Dec 2016 1,200 58% 14.4% – - 9.6% 43.6%
15–30 Nov 2016 Hercon 1,300 53.13% 22.1% - 15.53% 9.13% 31.03%
12–24 Nov 2016 Venebarometro 1,200 52.8% 26.5% - 14.4% 6.3% 26.3%
20–24 Jul 2016 Meganalisis 16 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine 1,220 66.1% 23.2% – - 10.6% 52.5%
1–16 Apr 2016 Hercon 1,200 73.2% 20.7% – - – 42.9%
5–15 Sep 2015 Venebarometro 1,200 70.9% 17.0% – - 12.1% 53.9%
8–16 Aug 2015 Ivad 1,200 69.2% 18.1% – - 18.1% 51.1%
29 September 2014 Ivad 800 61.1% 26.8% – - 12.1 34.3%
4 June 2014 Hercon - 62.5% 27.1% – - 10.4% 35.4%
10–22 Apr 2014 Venebarometro 1,200 49.6% 34.6% – - 15.8% 15%
10–26 Mar 2014 ICS 2 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine 1,400 33.7% 55.8% - - 9.2% 22.1%
14 Feb–14 Mar 2014 Keller 1,200 48% 34% - 3% 10% 14%
19–26 Jul 2013 - 45.1% 39.3% - - 15.7% 5.8%
17 Jun–6 Jul 2013 Varianzas 2,000 50.0% 44.6% - - 5.4% 5.4%
2–11 May 2013 Hercon 1,300 54.8% 40.4% – - 4.8% 14.4%
28 Apr–5 May 2013 Ivad 1,200 45.8% 40.8% - - – 5%

Controversies and issues edit

National Electoral Council bias edit

While nothing in the Venezuelan constitution prevents elections from being called early, the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory noted that the call for elections was disrespecting the tradition of organizing them in December to avoid an extended transition,[96] with exceptions in the year 2000 during the re-legitimization of all public powers by the approval of a new constitution; in October 2012 for the illness of Hugo Chávez, and in April 2013 for being an election due to the death of the president, maintaining that "the decision announced again showed the political bias of the electoral referee, since it included elements that made it difficult to have an election under equal conditions"[97] and that the CNE" struck a blow to democratic plurality" by preventing opposition parties from participating in the presidential election.[98] It also stated that since 2016 the electoral justice system administered in the country was "not impartial", citing the cases of the indigenous deputies of the Amazonas state who were dismissed from their positions for alleged irregularities in their election, which after two years have not been proven, while the fraud allegations made in October 2017 by the candidate to the governorship of Bolívar, Andrés Velásquez, had yet not been investigated.[97]

Electoral Registry edit

The Venezuelan Electoral Registry determines the number of people that will vote and in it the voters that must comply with mandatory electoral service in electoral boards are chosen, as well as the regional, municipal and parochial boards for the elections.[35] While in the 2012 presidential elections the CNE took two months to carry out the data update, migration and inscription of new voters in the Electoral Registry, in the 2018 elections the voters only had ten days between 10 and 20 February according to both the first 22 April and the definitive 20 May electoral schedules, both inside and outside the country, and the audits to the data were shortened from months to a few days.[99] The Electoral Registry has not been audited since 2005, with no independent observation for over a decade by the date of the election.[100]

It is clear that the CNE has done little to encourage the inscription of these new voters in the registry with institutional campaigns, breaking the current electoral law that which obligates it to deploy inscription and update centers in 'sectors of difficult access and/or of highest population concentration' in all the national territory and in any moment of the year

Venezuelan Electoral Observatory

In 2012 more than 1,300 updates of the Electoral Registry points were deployed on a national scale, but in 2018 less than half were opened, 531. The Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy estimated in the report The Citizen Observation of the Electoral Registry 2017 that at least 1,769,035 young voters were not inscribed in the Electoral Registry by December 2017. For the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory, the "CNE has done little to encourage the inscription of these new voters in the registry with institutional campaigns, breaking the current electoral law that which obligates it to deploy inscription and update centers in 'sectors of difficult access and/or of highest population concentration' in all the national territory and in any moment of the year" according to Article 33 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes [es], and that "what is needed for the citizen to exercise their right to vote is not being done".[99]

On 15 February, President Maduro, without being an electoral authority, announced the extension for five days for the inscription in the electoral registry abroad and informed the opening of the Venezuelan consulate in Miami so that Venezuelans living in the city could make changes and participate. The second opening of the registry happened with the elections date change to 20 May and it was opened from 2 to 10 March. In theory, the registry allowed to update information or inscribe new voters for 24 days abroad the country and 19 in Venezuela, but electoral experts denounced obstacles for the inscription of Venezuelans abroad, because besides being insufficient it led to other obstacles that did not allow for more assistance to embassies or consultares. The electoral registry abroad only increased by 7,028 voters, which does not represent even the 0.5% of the Venezuelans estimated abroad. Nationally by 910,272 new voters were registered, adding to the 20,759,809 existing voters. Voto Joven complained because the consultes did not work on holidays, only worked on office hours without enough time or information, as well as the requirement to ask for a permanent visa to those who live in the countries where the opening was formalized, even though to vote only a laminated identity card is needed.[35]

The Observatory also denounced that "The ER of Venezuelans abroad has been in a sort of illegal suspension since 2012, a measure violatory of the current electoral law" and that according to the last report of the CNE on 30 April 2017, the Venezuelans with the right to vote abroad are only 101,595 voters, "a number much lower than the migrants with the right to vote" in comparison to the estimates of between 2 and 4 million Venezuelans living abroad. Even though to vote only a laminated identity card is needed, active passports, original birth certificates, visas, residence letters, and other administrative requirements not covered by law were requested by consulates and embassies, preventing their participation in the elections.[99]

Agreement of Electoral Guarantees edit

The Agreement of Electoral Guarantees is a scam for the citizen since it covers points already established in the Law and that the CNE has not met

Beatriz Borges, Peace and Justice Center director

 
Red point in Caracas near a polling station in violation of the electoral norm

The signing of the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees by three of the original five presidential candidates – Maduro, Falcón, and Bertucci – was presented by the candidates as an extension of the electoral norms. The agreement included, among other aspects, the move to eliminate pro-government "red points" controlled by chavistas – which after the agreement had to be moved farther away from voting centers – the call for international observers and the return to voting center locations changed during the Constituent Assembly elections and the 2017 regional elections. The agreement has been questioned and rejected by the NGOs Voto Joven, CEPAZ, and the Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy. On 27 March, the CEPAZ director Beatriz Borges declared that "the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees is a scam for the citizen since it covers initiatives that were already established in the Law and that the CNE has not met".

Despite that the presidential candidates Henri Falcón, Javier Bertucci, and Luis Alejandro Ratti denounced the violation of guarantees provided in the agreement, on 2 May the president of the CNE, Tibisay Lucena, contradicted the complaints and assured that the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees was "fulfilled in its entirety".[101]

Vote buying edit

 
Carnet de la Patria

Reports of vote buying were also prevalent during the presidential campaigning. Venezuelans suffering from hunger were pressured to vote for Maduro, with the government bribing potential supporters with food.[102] Maduro promised rewards for citizens who scanned their Carnet de la Patria at "red points" near the voting booth, which would record whether or not they had voted. Voters who scanned their cards would later receive a text message thanking them for supporting Maduro. People familiar with the system and cardholders said that these prizes were never delivered.[103]

Everyone who has a Carnet de la Patria has to go to vote on 20 May. ... I am thinking of giving a prize to the people of Venezuela who go out to vote that day with the Carnet de la Patria

— President Nicolás Maduro, 28 April 2018[104]

In a visit to Delta Amacuro, president and reelection candidate Nicolás Maduro gave away eight motor boats, nine ambulances, and reopened the "Antonio Díaz" Tucupita Airport, among other announcements, violating Article 223 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes which forbids the use of state resources during election campaigns, as well as one of the prerogatives in the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees signed by the presidential candidates to the CNE.[105][106][107] On 8 May Maduro again violated the electoral law during an electoral act in the Amazonas state by promising to give fuel to the entity in exchange for votes.[108][109][110][111]

Medical care and voter fraud edit

Mission Barrio Adentro was a program established by Chávez to bring medical care to poor neighborhoods; it was staffed by Cubans that were sent to Venezuela in exchange for petroleum. The New York Times interviewed Cuban medical professionals in 2019 who had worked for Barrio Adentro prior to the election; sixteen revealed that they were required to participate in voting fraud.[112] In the earlier 2013 election, four of the Cubans said that "command centers" for elections were placed near clinics to facilitate "dispatching doctors to pressure residents".[112]

But they also "described a system of deliberate political manipulation"; their services as medical professionals "were wielded to secure votes for the governing Socialist Party, often through coercion", they told The New York Times.[112] Facing a shortage of supplies and medicine, they were instructed to withhold treatment–even for emergencies–so supplies and treatment could be "doled out closer to the election, part of a national strategy to compel patients to vote for the government".[112] They reported that life-saving treatment was denied to patients who supported the opposition. As the election neared, they were sent door-to-door, on house visits with a political purpose: "to hand out medicine and enlist voters for Venezuela's Socialist Party".[112] Patients were warned that they could lose their medical care if they did not vote for the socialist party, and that, if Maduro lost, ties would be broken with Cuba, and Venezuelans would lose all medical care. Patients with chronic conditions, at risk of death if they couldn't get medicine, were a particular focus of these tactics. One said that government officials were posing as doctors to make these house calls before elections; 'We, the doctors, were asked to give our extra robes to people. The fake doctors were even giving out medicines, without knowing what they were or how to use them," he said.[112]

Conduct edit

The electoral conduct has been described as being fraudulent,[113] with the call for an election by the pro-government Constituent National Assembly being declared unconstitutional in the first place, especially when the body moved the election date ahead from December to April.[100] The National Electoral Council (CNE), which is charged with overseeing elections in Venezuela, is also controlled by Maduro sympathizers.[100] The Venezuelan government has also been accused of excluding opposition candidates, handpicking candidates, voter intimidation, vote buying, and offering food to those who vote for President Maduro.[100][113] No recognized electoral observers were reported to be present for the elections.[100]

Announcement edit

The 1999 Venezuelan constitution establishes that the Electoral Branch, conformed by the National Electoral Council and its subordinate organisms, is responsible for "the organization, administration, direction and surveillance of all the acts related to the election of positions of representation of the branches of government, as well as referendums". Despite this, the Constituent Assembly issued a decree in January 2018 ordering the CNE to organize the presidential elections to be held in April.[35] The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory declared that "the decision announced by the CNE evidences once more the political bias of the electoral arbitrator" and warned that 74 days are insufficient to guarantee the equality and transparency of the elections.[98]

We deeply regret that elections were summoned without a broad agreement of its schedule nor of the conditions for an inclusive and credible electoral process.

— Federica Mogherini[114]

The Observatory pointed out that phases of the process such as the selection of new board members, the choosing of subordinate electoral organisms in public raffles, the deployment of extraordinary journeys of inscription,[clarification needed] the update of the Electoral Registry in a broad span that allows the incorporation of the largest amount of Venezuelans, the maintenance of the voting machines, the appropriate implementation of technical audits that guarantee the proper functioning of the automated voting system, and the organization of quality international missions would all be affected due to the lack of time.[98]

The Electoral Citizen Network described as "irregular" the order of the Constituent Assembly to summon presidential elections before 30 April 2018, defining that it was a violation of the constitution and civil rights.[115] Like the 2017 municipal elections, the announcement was made less than six months in advance, the time necessary to facilitate the lapses established in the normal electoral process. Súmate and Voto Joven indicated that this would shorten the terms of the Electoral Registry, generating a "hasty and little transparent process". The Electoral Citizen Network demanded the Electoral Branch the performance of special operatives for the inscription and update of voters in Venezuela and abroad.[116][117]

Ramón Guillermo Aveledo, former executive secretary of the Democratic Unity Roundtable, compared the elections to the 1957 referendum of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, noting that Article 82 and the Organic Law for the Public Municipal Branch specifies the prohibition that the elections for municipal positions are carried out along with the national elections, and that the mandate of the National Assembly ends in 2021, meaning that shortening its period, something not provided in the constitution, or the Venezuelan electoral laws, is "dissolving it", which would be considered "a coup d'état" against the Legislative Branch.[118]

Electoral schedule edit

Two weeks after the Constituent Assembly ordered the elections and following the failure of the dialogue between the Bolivarian government and the opposition in the Dominican Republic, the CNE fixed 22 April 2018 as the day of the elections in a press conference, also announcing 15 audits and giving some dates, but without formally disclosing the electoral schedule. After changing the date of the elections to 20 May 2018 on 1 March, the CNE took 13 days to disclose the schedule. The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and the Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy declared that the CNE has reduced the terms in each of the phases of the electoral schedule for the presidential elections since 2013, and in comparison to the 2006 and 2012 schedules with the 2018 one, the spans of the phases went from having up to three months to only two or three days in fundamental aspects, according to the last announcement of the elections. Both the time allotted for applications toward the Electoral Registry and the electoral campaigns were significantly reduced. To determine the electoral districts, the CNE must comply with the population estimates provided by the state-run National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela [es], which in turn requires the approval of the National Assembly first. This step was omitted and the CNE published the districts for the legislative councils at its own discretion, without disclosing its process and without answering any complaints.[35]

On 26 March, the Peace and Justice Center (CEPAZ) denounced how the CNE changed the schedule of the 20 May elections "clandestinely and surreptitiously", what it constituted as "a new irregularity that prevents the adequate information about the electoral offers from being guaranteed and facilitated to the voters", referring to the modification made for the ballot choices by the political parties, electoral groups, indigenous organizations, initiatives carried out on 24 March and for the regional candidates, they were scheduled for 26 March in the 23 regional offices of the CNE. According to the Electoral Branch schedule published on 13 March, the choice on ballot for national organizations would be carried out on 21 March and in the case of the regional ones on 22 March, but each one was postponed between three and four days, prompting CEPAZ to warn that due to the "opaque and quiet modification of the electoral schedule", five days were removed from the production and distribution process of the invalid electoral ballots, "further diminishing the possibility of having voters informed".[119]

The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory stressed in its report about the elections that the process for nominating presidential candidates was only allowed for only three days in 2018, from 26 to 28 February, while the modification and substitution of nominations, "the CNE enabled 118 days on 2012 and only 2 March in 2018 for this occasion". The Observatory also stressed that although the terms were changed to add the legislative councils, this did not mean a further extension of the days because "16 activities were compressed to be carried out in only 17 days, a schedule in which no task lasted more than eight days". The electoral schedule did not include national observers nor international accompaniment, which the CNE accepted until 2015. After the signature of the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees on 1 March by the political parties Great Patriotic Pole, Movimiento al Socialismo, Avanzada Progresista, and COPEI, the United Nations was requested to head an electoral mission, but the organization refused to accept the offer, even after receiving a formal invitation and accepting visits from principal candidates or their representatives.[35]

Campaigning edit

It should be prevented that an official, such as the president, use the communication platform to take advantage of the other candidates. In this election there are several who have propaganda on television, but there is no CNE that limits the number of times that is transmitted daily neither the minutes nor the content

Francisco Castro, national coordinator of Súmate

The presidential and legislative councils campaign started on 22 April and ended on 17 May at midnight, according to the schedule approved by the CNE. However, candidates postulated for the presidency or the reelection carried out activities with the electorate and exposed proposals that will be executed in case of being elected, violating Article 75 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes [es].[75] Francisco Castro, national coordinator of Súmate, pointed out that the CNE provided only 26 days for the national campaigning, explaining that the term "does not allow candidates to have enough time to promote their ideas and call for participation, so they are forced to anticipate their campaign. By tradition, the process lasts more than 60 days", noting that the CNE began the process only 80 days prior to the election of more than 500 positions, reducing the time of the activities. Equally, he indicated that the CNE does not regulate pre-campaign activities and stated that as long as there is not an explicit call to vote, then the candidate cannot be sanctioned. Castro explained that the pattern carried out since the government of Hugo Chávez is repeated in which electoral campaigns are used to inaugurate works and make promises. He continued by stating that the practice should be prevented, that "an official, such as the president, uses the communication platform to take advantage of the other candidates", saying that during the elections there were several candidates who used propaganda on television, but that the CNE does not limit the number of minutes, the content or the number of times that it is transmitted daily.[75]

Ignacio Ávalos, director of the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory, and political scientist Luis Salamanca agreed that until now, an electoral environment or government project does not exist, but rather "a struggle to achieve power", stressing that electoral competition was suppressed and that an electoral campaign was designed for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's own convenience. Salamanca asserted that "Maduro distributes benefits to obtain votes and Falcón offers benefits in the future in exchange for votes. Neither has enough weight to mobilize the country electorally".[75]

The Tal Cual newspaper published an article describing Maduro's final campaign rally on 17 May as "the greatest demonstration of corruption", criticizing the "shameless" use of state resources, including the use of ministerial staff and publishing audio which revealed that promotion of the final rally was created using the payroll of government offices. Tal Cual also published the PSUV's operative plan of the rally, which did not include tasks directed towards PSUV party members but instead assigns responsibilities to the state ministries and other public institutions, including the mobilization of people. The operative plan details that the state-run oil company PDVSA installed the main stage, generators, the backing, and the sound systems, that the Defense Ministry was in charge of the fireworks detonations, that the Ministry for Mining Development was responsible for decoration and that other institutions were responsible for the installation of portable bathrooms, visual displays, barriers, awnings, and refreshments. In page six of the PSUV plan it is also written that the people that surrounded the stage from which Maduro was speaking were militias dressed as civilians.[120][121]

Results edit

By the time polls were to officially close at 6:00pm VST, it was reported by a CNE source that voter turnout was only 32.3%,[122] the lowest turnout in Venezuela's modern democratic history since the 1958 coup d'état.[3] CNE data would later show that turnout was 46.1%, a record low.[16]

Both Falcón and Bertucci rejected the results, stating that there were too many irregularities.[16] As the results were read by the CNE, many Venezuelans throughout Caracas began a cacerolazo protest against Maduro, with some beginning to barricade streets.[123]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Nicolás MaduroUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela6,248,86467.85
Henri FalcónProgressive Advance1,927,95820.93
Javier BertucciEsperanza por El Cambio989,76110.75
Reinaldo QuijadaPopular Political Unit 89 [es]43,1940.47
Total9,209,777100.00
Valid votes9,209,77798.11
Invalid/blank votes177,6721.89
Total votes9,387,449100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,526,97845.73
Source: , IFES

Aftermath edit

Tibisay Lucena stated that the CNE forbade the payment to voters offered by Maduro.[124] On 22 May when the CNE proclaimed Maduro as president, Maduro announced the creation of a presidential commission for economic advice.[125] The same day, Maduro declared as personae non-gratae American diplomats Todd D. Robinson and Brian Naranjo, who had to leave the country within 48 hours.[citation needed]

In the week prior to the presidential elections around 40 military personnel from different parts of the country were arrested. On 16 May, officials of the Dirección General Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM) arrested 12 members of the National Armed Forces with the frigate lieutenant rank. Three days later, 20 military people were detained and on 21 May six more were arrested. Among the detainees are six lieutenant colonels, a first lieutenant and two sergeants, arrested on the charges of crimes against military decorum, treason and instigation of rebellion. Foro Penal lawyer Mariana Ortega informed receiving reports of arbitrary detentions.[126]

On 24 May, Maduro took oath among the Constituent Assembly, a ceremony that should have taken place in January 2019 with the opposition-led National Assembly in accordance with Article 231 of the Venezuelan constitution.[127] The National Assembly rejected the election's results, calling them an "electoral farce"[128] and declared that Maduro must be considered "a usurper".[129] However, Maduro's new six-year term did not begin until 10 January 2019, when he took his official oath at a public ceremony in Caracas in front of the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal.[130] The ceremony was attended by spectators such as Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and president of Bolivia Evo Morales.[130]

Between the May 2018 presidential election and Maduro's inauguration, there were calls to establish a transitional government.[131][132][133] CEO of Venezuela Al Día, Manuel Corao, argued that Maduro was no longer the president and that "the tendencies in Venezuela represented in the National Assembly [wish to] designate a transitional government that fills the vacuum of power and liberates Venezuelans from Communist evil".[131] Former Venezuelan legislator Alexis Ortiz stated that "Castrochavism [...] rots in incompetence, corruption, and surrender of national sovereignty", calling on a transitional government to work on reconciliation, establish general elections, receive humanitarian assistance and protect civil liberties, among other requests.[132]

A November 2018 report by the International Crisis Group said that "[n]eighboring countries and other foreign powers have taken steps–including sanction–to achieve some kind of negotiated transition, which is still the best way out of the crisis".[133]

In January 2019, the National Assembly declared the results of the election invalid, and invoked clauses of the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution to appoint National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaidó as acting president, precipitating the Venezuelan presidential crisis. Maduro's supporters refused to acknowledge the move, and Guaidó was placed under arrest for a short time. Several international organizations and independent countries have lined up to support either side of the conflict, and the former Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela, in exile in Panama since 2017, has given its support to the legitimacy of the National Assembly's moves.[citation needed]

Reactions edit

Domestic edit

The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition coalition confirmed on 21 February 2018 that it would not participate in the elections since they "do not comply with democratic conditions or guarantees".[134] Henri Falcón, independent presidential candidate and former Lara State Governor, lambasted the Democratic Unity Roundtable for their boycott of the elections and stated: "You will disappear as politicians and as parties for not understanding the dynamics of a country that demands solutions and not conflict", and also stated, "four parties (those participating in the elections) believe in national unity".[citation needed]

Movimiento Estudiantil rejected the elections, saying they were called "outside of the lapses established by our Carta Magna" and stated that it they were "requested by an unconstitutional, incompetent body erected on the blood of hundreds of Venezuelans", considering that the elections are not designed for the Venezuelan public, but were created to "perpetuate the hell and the misery lived today". The movement stated that it would not participate in the process and demanded political leaders not to endorse the process.[135][136]

The NGO Foro Penal decided not to endorse the announcement of the presidential elections based on the fact that the Constituent Assembly does not have constitutional faculties to summon an election because it is only empowered to draft a new constitution, assuring that it would be seizing functions from other political bodies when calling for elections and that the announcement is violating the right of Venezuelans to choose in valid and fair conditions attached to the constitution.[137] Both the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela and the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fedecámaras) rejected and asked to postpone the elections in statements published on the week of the elections.[138][139] The head of the Caracas-based Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy Griselda Colina and former Director of the Carter Center's Americas Program Jennifer McCoy concluded that Maduro's victory could not be considered democratic due to a wide range of failings in prevailing electoral conditions.[140]

International edit

Supranational bodies edit

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein noted that his office had concerns that reports of extrajudicial killings cast doubts on fairness, stating "this context does not in any way fulfill minimal conditions for free and credible elections".[141] On 23 March 2018 a United Nations official informed that the organization would not offer electoral assistance in the elections, without explaining the motives. Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that a letter was sent to Venezuelan authorities regarding the request of electoral experts, but did not explain the content.[40]

 
Representatives of Lima Group members gathered on 13 February 2018

Prior to the elections, the Lima Group, with its participating nations of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Saint Lucia, stated that they would not recognize the results of the presidential elections due to the perceived lack of transparency.[142] With the support of the Lima Group, the Peruvian foreign minister Cayetana Aljovín informed that the presence of President Maduro in the 8th Summit of the Americas "would not be welcome in said encounter", quoting the 2001 Quebec Declaration, which states that "the rupture of democracy constitutes an insuperable obstacle for the participation of a State in the Summit of the Americas".[citation needed] After the vote, Canada joined the group in condemning the election as fraudulent.[143]

On 23 February 2018, at a special session supported by its Secretary General Luis Almagro, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution that asks the Venezuelan government to reconsider the announcement of the presidential elections and to present a new electoral schedule to make possible the performance of elections with all the guarantees needed. The 19 countries that supported the resolution were Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, the United States, and Uruguay.[144][145] Following a meeting held on 10 May, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) published a document stating that the process did not meet international standards, that the CNE electoral body was biased and that the "hurried announcement ... has seriously affected the warranty of the universal vote for the new voters and Venezuelans abroad", concluding that the election would not meet "the minimal conditions needed for the realization of free, fair and reliable elections in Venezuela".[146][147][148]

On 8 February, the European Parliament, with 480 votes in favor, 51 against, and 70 abstentions, adopted a resolution demanding sanctions against President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Tareck el Aissami, and other officials, considering them "responsible for the aggravation of the crisis.[149] The European Union, through the European Parliament, also ruled that it would not recognize the 20 May elections and called the electoral process "fraudulent".[11] On 3 May 2018, the European Parliament again called for the immediate suspension of the 20 May election until "free and fair elections were held on a schedule agreed upon with the participation of all relevant actors and political parties".[12]

Governments edit

The governments of Argentina,[150] Canada,[151] Chile,[152] Colombia,[142] Costa Rica,[153] France,[154] Jamaica,[155] Panama,[156] Paraguay, Spain,[157] the United States[citation needed] and Uruguay[158] directly criticized the electoral process in various ways, condemning the disqualification and imprisonment of MUD individuals, the lack of advanced notice for the election date and the bias of electoral bodies, describing such actions by the Venezuelan government antidemocratic.[159][160] Remaining member governments representing countries from the Lima Group, including Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Saint Lucia, denounced the elections in a joint statement through declarations made by the organization.[142]

Meanwhile, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda,[161] Bolivia,[162][non-primary source needed] Cuba,[163] Nicaragua,[citation needed] North Korea[164] and Russia[citation needed] reacted to the call for elections positively, showing support for the process and demanded that there be no intervention.

Recognition edit

 
Map of countries which recognized Venezuela's 2018 presidential election
  Venezuela
  Recognize
  Do not recognize
  Not stated

Domestic edit

The opposition-led National Assembly of Venezuela rejected the results, calling them an "electoral farce".[128] The Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition coalition formalized their dismissal of the electoral results on a legislative level.[129]

Candidate Henri Falcón denounced the election before the announcement of the results.[165] CNE rector and president of the Political Participation and Finance Commission Luis Emilio Rondón announced his rejection of the electoral results, stating that "clearly they were flawed". Rondón offered the office of the commission to the candidates to file their irregularities reports that they exposed to "organize the claims that correspond to the clarification of all these aspects that disrupt the electoral process".[166]

International edit

Unrecognized edit

The European Union, after calling for the suspension of the elections, stated that they would not recognize the results.[11][12] On 28 May 2018, the Council of the European Union, with its members representing the executive governments of members states including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, refused to recognize the election results and called for new, democratic elections.[167]

The Lima Group—comprising Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Saint Lucia—announced that it would not recognize the results. In written statements, the Group's members said they would reduce their diplomatic relations, consult with their ambassadors and summon the Venezuelan ambassadors in their countries to protest against the election for "not complying with international standards for a free, fair and transparent process".[168][169][170]

The leaders of the G7 group, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, joined the European Union in rejecting the elections and denounced that their development did not "comply with international standards" and did not grant "basic guarantees".[171]

Individually, Australia,[14] Chile,[172] France,[173] Germany, the Netherlands,[174] New Zealand,[175] Spain,[176] Switzerland,[177] the United Kingdom,[citation needed] the United States,[13] and Georgia[178] also refused to recognize the election.

Recognized edit

Antigua and Barbuda,[161] Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Iran, North Korea,[164] South Africa, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Turkey (the only NATO member), Vietnam and the disputed state of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) recognized the election result.[102][179][180][181][182][183] The Houthis (Ansar Allah), who took over the government of Yemen in 2014–2015, congratulated Maduro on the election results.[184] Many of the Caribbean nations that recognized the election rely on Venezuela for oil as part of the Petrocaribe programme.[181]

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ . cne.gov.ve. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ Martinez, Ana Isabel (1 March 2018). "Venezuela postpones presidential election to May 20". Reuters. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b c . U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Venezuela opposition weighs election run". BBC News. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ^ "CNE: El 22 de abril se realizarán las presidenciales". Globovision (in Spanish). 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b Redacción, Voz de América - (1 March 2018). "Postergan elecciones en Venezuela hasta mayo" (in Spanish). Voice of America. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  7. ^ Sen, Ashish Kumar (18 May 2018). "Venezuela's Sham Election". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 20 May 2018. Nicolás Maduro is expected to be re-elected president of Venezuela on May 20 in an election that most experts agree is a sham
  8. ^ "Venezuela's sham presidential election". Financial Times. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018. The vote, of course, is a sham. Support is bought via ration cards issued to state workers with the implicit threat that both job and card are at risk if they vote against the government. Meanwhile, the country's highest profile opposition leaders are barred from running, in exile, or under arrest.
  9. ^ . Efecto Cocuyo. 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  10. ^  • Rodríguez Rosas, Ronny (23 February 2018). . Efecto Cocuyo. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
    • León, Ibis (9 December 2017). . Efecto Cocuyo. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
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    • "Raul Castro and Cuban President Congratulate Nicolas Maduro – Radio Reloj". 22 May 2018.
    • "International backlash after Venezuela poll". BBC. 22 May 2018.
    • "Los 9 países que reconocieron la fraudulenta reelección de Nicolás Maduro a pesar del masivo repudio internacional". Infobae (in Spanish). 22 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
    • . Latin American Herald Tribune. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018. China asked on Monday that the decision of the Venezuelan people be respected after the re-election of Nicolas Maduro as president amid the opposition's demand for new elections, citing irregularities
    • . Latin American Herald Tribune. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
    • Mollman, Steve. "North Korea, at least, congratulated Nicolás Maduro on winning Venezuela's election". Quartz. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
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  17. ^ "BERTUCCI PIDE NUEVAS ELECCIONES SIN MADURO". La Prensa (in Spanish). 20 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  18. ^ . The Washington Post]. 4 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
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    Brodzinsky, Sibylla (21 October 2016). "Venezuelans warn of 'dictatorship' after officials block bid to recall Maduro". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venezuelan presidential election, 2018.
  • Official results Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)

April 27, 2024
2018, venezuelan, presidential, election, presidential, elections, were, held, venezuela, 2018, with, incumbent, nicolás, maduro, being, declared, elected, second, year, term, original, electoral, date, scheduled, december, 2018, subsequently, pulled, ahead, a. Presidential elections were held in Venezuela on 20 May 2018 2 with incumbent Nicolas Maduro being declared re elected for a second six year term 3 The original electoral date was scheduled for December 2018 but was subsequently pulled ahead to 22 April before being pushed back to 20 May 4 5 6 Some analysts described the poll as a sham election 7 8 as many prominent opposition parties had been barred from participating in it The elections had the lowest voter turnout in Venezuela s democratic era 3 9 2018 Venezuelan presidential election 2013 20 May 2018 2018 05 20 2024 Turnout46 07 per the National Electoral Council 1 Candidate Nicolas Maduro Henri Falcon Javier Bertucci Party PSUV Progressive Advance El Cambio Alliance GPP Popular vote 6 248 864 1 927 958 989 761 Percentage 67 85 20 93 10 75 Percentages of vote for Maduro by statePresident before election Nicolas Maduro PSUV Elected President Nicolas Maduro disputed with Juan Guaido PSUV Several Venezuelan NGOs such as Foro Penal Sumate Voto Joven the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and the Citizen Electoral Network expressed their concern over the irregularities of the electoral schedule including the lack of the Constituent Assembly s competencies to summon the elections impeding participation of opposition political parties and the lack of time for standard electoral functions 10 Because of this the European Union 11 12 the Organization of American States the Lima Group and countries including Australia and the United States rejected the electoral process 13 14 However countries including Belarus China Cuba Iran North Korea Palestine Russia Syria Turkey and others recognized the election result 15 The two leading candidates opposing Maduro Henri Falcon and Javier Bertucci rejected the results saying that the election was critically flawed by irregularities Bertucci asked that the elections be repeated with Maduro being disqualified 16 17 Maduro was inaugurated on 10 January 2019 leading to a presidential crisis 18 Contents 1 Background 1 1 Election preparations 2 Electoral system 3 Primary process 3 1 Opposition 3 1 1 Disqualifications 3 2 PSUV 4 Candidates 4 1 Maduro 4 2 Falcon 4 3 Bertucci 4 4 Quijada 4 5 Ratti 5 Campaign 6 Demonstrations 7 Opinion polls 8 Controversies and issues 8 1 National Electoral Council bias 8 2 Electoral Registry 8 3 Agreement of Electoral Guarantees 8 4 Vote buying 8 5 Medical care and voter fraud 9 Conduct 9 1 Announcement 9 2 Electoral schedule 9 3 Campaigning 10 Results 11 Aftermath 12 Reactions 12 1 Domestic 12 2 International 12 2 1 Supranational bodies 12 2 2 Governments 13 Recognition 13 1 Domestic 13 2 International 13 2 1 Unrecognized 13 2 2 Recognized 14 Notes 15 References 16 External linksBackground editFurther information Crisis in Venezuela 2012 present nbsp A man eating from garbage due to food shortages in VenezuelaFollowing the death of President Hugo Chavez in 2013 Venezuela faced a severe socioeconomic crisis during the presidency of his successor Nicolas Maduro Due to the country s high levels of urban violence inflation and chronic shortages of basic goods attributed primarily to the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar and to some extent due to economic policies such as strict price controls civil insurrection in Venezuela culminated in the 2014 18 protests Protests occurred periodically over the years with demonstrations occurring in various sizes depending on the events Venezuelans were facing during the crisis nbsp A 26 October 2016 protest that gathered an estimated 1 2 million Venezuelans following the cancellation of recalling President MaduroAfter facing years of crisis the Venezuelan opposition pursued a recall referendum against President Maduro presenting a petition to the National Electoral Council CNE on 2 May 2016 19 By August 2016 the momentum to recall President Maduro appeared to be progressing with the CNE setting a date for the second phase of collecting signatures though it made the schedule strenuous stretching the process into 2017 which made it impossible for the opposition to activate new presidential elections 20 On 21 October 2016 the CNE suspended the referendum days before preliminary signature gatherings were to be held 21 The CNE blamed several irregularities and alleged voter fraud as the reason for the cancellation of the referendum 21 International observers criticized the move stating that CNE s decision made Maduro look as if he were seeking to rule as a dictator 22 23 Days after the recall movement was cancelled 1 2 million Venezuelans protested throughout the country against the move demanding that President Maduro leave office with Caracas protests remaining calm while protests in other states resulted in clashes between demonstrators and authorities leaving one policeman dead 120 injured and 147 arrested 24 That day the opposition gave President Maduro a deadline of 3 November 2016 to hold elections with opposition leader Henrique Capriles stating Today we are giving a deadline to the government I tell the coward who is in Miraflores that on 3 November the Venezuelan people are coming to Caracas because we are going to Miraflores 24 source source source source source source source David Vallenilla being shot dead by Venezuelan authorities during the 2017 Venezuelan protests On 1 November 2016 then National Assembly President and opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup announced the cancellation of 3 November march to the Miraflores presidential palace with Vatican led dialogue between the opposition and the government beginning 25 By 7 December 2016 dialogue halted between the two 26 Two months later on 13 January 2017 after talks stalled the Vatican officially pulled out of the dialogue 27 On 23 January 2017 Henrique Capriles a two time presidential candidate declared This will be the last conventional protest the next one will be a surprise one 28 The opposition then began to focus on its electoral efforts with only sporadic protests occurring for the next few months Following the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis protests in Venezuela intensified in mid 2017 though the movement died down after President Maduro called for a controversial special election which resulted with the installation of the pro government superbody the Constituent National Assembly Regional elections that occurred months later further cemented the government s power after they won 18 of the 23 governorships Election preparations edit After the government overcame mass protests and won two major disputed elections one of which installed a constitutional superbody the government rallied behind President Maduro with government sources stating that elections were to be moved ahead to February or March 2018 instead of the planned late 2018 date to take advantage of their electoral momentum 29 On 11 December 2017 President Maduro announced that many of the main opposition parties including Justice First and Popular Will would be banned from participating in the 2018 presidential election for abstaining to participate in the 2017 municipal elections 30 In February 2018 the government announced that elections would be held on 22 April 2018 less than three months before the date 4 Popular Will announced on 16 February that it would boycott the elections 31 Following weeks of controversy involving international condemnation and rejection of potential election results the CNE delayed the election for a few additional weeks pushing for a 20 May 2018 election date 6 Electoral system editSee also Elections in Venezuela Polling procedure The President of Venezuela is elected by plurality in a single round of voting 32 The elections were overseen by the National Electoral Council with poll workers drafted via a lottery of registered voters Polling places were equipped with multiple high tech touch screen DRE voting machines After the vote is cast each machine prints out a paper ballot or VVPAT which is inspected by the voter and deposited in a ballot box belonging to the machine s table The voting machines perform in a stand alone fashion disconnected from any network until the polls close 33 Voting session closure at each of the voting stations in a given polling center is determined either by the lack of further voters after the lines have emptied or by the hour at the discretion of the president of the voting table citation needed After the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees was signed on 1 March by the political parties Great Patriotic Pole Movimiento al Socialismo Avanzada Progresista and COPEI the United Nations was asked with a formal invitation and visit by the main candidates or their representatives to send a delegation to monitor the election The Democratic Unity Roundtable MUD opposed UN electoral observation in Venezuela 34 In the end the UN refused to send a mission 35 36 The Carter Center turned down Maduro s invitation to send an observation team on election day as did other election observing institutions 37 Smartmatic the electoral product company which had participated in the majority of elections under the Bolivarian government ceased operations in its native country in March 2018 stating that they could not guarantee the validity of election results through its machines 38 The election was mainly observed by allies of the Venezuelan government after many international bodies decided that there were no democratic guarantees in the country the United Nations declined the invitation to monitor the election 36 after members of the opposition asked the UN not to send observers 39 On 23 March 2018 a United Nations official informed that the organization would not offer electoral assistance in the elections without explaining the motives Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that a letter was sent to Venezuelan authorities regarding the request of electoral experts but did not explain the content 40 These observers included the Latin American Council on Electoral Experts Common Frontiers Unifor former Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and former President of Ecuador Rafael Correa 41 Primary process editOpposition edit nbsp March in support of the candidacy of Lorenzo Mendoza on 15 January 2018 In March 2017 parties of the Democratic Unity Roundtable MUD the opposition s main electoral alliance began discussion on who would be their candidate for the 2018 presidential elections On 14 March 2017 Popular Will announced that Leopoldo Lopez the party s National Coordinator who is currently imprisoned for his role in the 2014 protests against the Bolivarian government was chosen to be their candidate for the MUD primaries 42 Days later on 20 March 2017 Justice First chose Henrique Capriles Radonski to be their candidate for the primaries his third run for the presidency with his previous attempts occurring in the 2012 and 2013 presidential elections 43 On 21 March 2017 veteran politician Henry Ramos Allup was chosen to be the candidate for the Democratic Action 44 In February 2018 the Democratic Unity Roundtable MUD announced that it would boycott the presidential election saying the electoral system was rigged in favor of incumbent President Nicolas Maduro and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela 45 Opinion pollsOn 5 May 2018 a poll by DolarToday showed that if the elections were held on that date 45 of the participants would give their opposition vote for Lorenzo Mendoza CEO of Empresas Polar 24 for Leopoldo Lopez 12 for Maria Corina Machado 9 for Henry Ramos Allup 7 for Henrique Capriles and 3 for Henri Falcon 46 Opinion polls Poll source Date s administered Samplesize Capriles Ramos Lopez Others Independent Undecided Don t know Venebarametro 47 23 October 7 November 2017 889 12 6 7 3 23 8 47 3 9 0 Hercon 48 20 29 August 2017 1 200 16 2 8 1 20 3 16 4 39 0 Hercon 49 15 30 April 2017 1 200 25 1 29 5 4 9 16 5 Datanalisis 50 29 November 12 December 2016 1 200 16 9 4 7 21 2 1 0 18 5 Hercon 51 25 September 10 October 2016 1 200 25 8 33 6 40 5 Datanalisis 52 July 2015 1 000 17 3 25 2 12 7 12 6 Datanalisis 53 January February 2015 1 000 17 4 20 0 17 3 16 6 Disqualifications edit The majority of popular leaders of the MUD and other members of the opposition could not apply for the elections because of administrative and legal procedures and were disqualified from participating in the presidential elections by the government This included Henrique Capriles candidate in the 2012 and 2013 elections Leopoldo Lopez sentenced to almost 14 years of prison during the 2014 protests Antonio Ledezma arrested in 2015 and later placed under house arrest Freddy Guevara whose parliamentary immunity was removed and fled to the residence of the Chilean ambassador and David Smolansky currently in exile as well as Maria Corina Machado and Miguel Rodriguez Torres former defense minister and dissident chavista also incarcerated 54 On 5 April 2017 the Comptroller General of Venezuela notified Capriles that for 15 years he would be prevented from participating in public office alleging without offering proof that he misused public funds as governor a charge that Capriles denied 55 The main opposition political parties were disqualified after they were forced to reregister themselves for a second time in less than a year by the National Electoral Council CNE after not participating in the 2017 municipal elections The parties Popular Will and Puente refused to do so while the CNE prevented Justice First only the party Accion Democratica was revalidated 56 In late January 2018 the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice blocked the revalidation of the Democratic Unity Roundtable card the most voted in the electoral history of the country and was also banned 56 57 Finally Justice First was disqualified weeks later from the presidential race in early February 2018 leaving only Democratic Action and other minor opposition parties 58 The actions by the government cleared the path for Henry Ramos Allup and his Democratic Action to gain popularity in the presidential elections After many other opposition parties were disqualified President Maduro singled out Ramos Allup and stated that he would run against him 59 PSUV edit Due to the perceived unpopularity of President Nicolas Maduro within the PSUV it was speculated that potential candidates would include former National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello Vice President Tareck El Aissami and National Constituent Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez 60 However Maduro was eventually chosen to run as the party s presidential candidate when Candidates editMaduro edit Main article 2018 Nicolas Maduro presidential campaign nbsp Nicolas Maduro s presidential campaign logo Nicolas Maduro the successor of Hugo Chavez who assumed and was elected to the presidency in 2013 ran for re election Maduro has denied that there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and says that Venezuelans dying from poor health is exaggerated blaming many shortcomings on the United States 61 Maduro made the campaign promise of creating a new economy in Venezuela 62 The Bolivarian government also increased spending on populist policies during the campaign to help sway voters to support Maduro 63 Analysts suggested that those policies would further exacerbate the negative effects of the crisis in Venezuela 63 Falcon edit nbsp Campaign posters of Falcon in Caracas Henri Falcon is a former governor of Lara who left PSUV in 2010 and founded the party Progressive Advance in 2012 which was affiliated to the Democratic Unity Roundtable until 2018 His political positioning was seen by some as a good way to govern from a position between the government and the opposition though some Chavistas believe he is a traitor while some in the opposition think he is an infiltrator 64 Falcon was officially nominated as a presidential candidate by the Movement for Socialism on 26 February 2018 65 Bertucci edit nbsp Wall paintings supporting Bertucci s campaign in Altamira Caracas along with a no voto I don t vote graffiti Javier Bertucci an evangelical pastor announced his candidacy on 18 February 2018 66 He emphasized bringing back the values of Venezuelans stating that his church has cared for the poor in Venezuela 67 Bertucci is against abortion and believes same sex partners should not adopt children stating I respect and love any person who has a different sexual orientation but in a legal sense I would have to tell them categorically that I would never support this 67 However Bertucci has said that despite his absolutely conservative values he would hold a referendum on whether to legalize abortion and same sex marriage claiming that he would support the decisions of the people even those contrary to Christianity 68 Bertucci was one of the Venezuelan businessmen involved in the Panama Papers leak 69 On 18 February actress Diosa Canales expressed she was against the elections but supported Bertucci s candidacy 70 Quijada edit Reinaldo Quijada an electrical engineer who follows the chavista movement stated he would take up the revolutionary process in his campaign and that we are certainly opposed to the government of President Maduro we are certainly opposed to the PSUV but we are not opposed to the revolutionary process 71 Ratti edit Luis Alejandro Ratti is a chavista businessman and evangelical pastor He was formerly part of the Hugo Chavez Bolivarian Front until he broke ranks with the Maduro government During his campaign Ratti stated he would represent the people with chivalry bravery and without fear guaranteeing that they are going to have a different path than the last twenty years 62 After withdrawing from the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees on 30 April he announced his exit from the presidential race on 8 May and threw his support behind Henri Falcon 72 Campaign edit nbsp Two campaign billboards in Caracas of Nicolas Maduro and Henri Falcon On 2 April 2018 Falcon s security adviser Colonel Teodoro Campos was attacked by pro government colectivos with a head wound that left the deputy severely injured and later had him placed in an intensive care unit where he was intubated and placed on a ventilator 73 CNE president Tibisay Lucena announced on 12 April that the political parties and individuals that promote abstention will be sanctioned 74 The campaign for the presidential elections and the legislative councils started on 22 April and ended on 17 May midnight 75 In late April Maduro visited the state of Bolivar and stated that this is a new beginning to get 10 million votes and that love will overcome May 20 over the lies of manipulation and economic warfare citation needed On 24 April during a campaign event in Carabobo state Nicolas Maduro declared that during the electoral campaign the government would call on all Venezuelans with the Carnet de la Patria to look after votes assured that the closer they get to 10 million votes the more guarantee of peace of stability and of economic recovery there would be Maduro called Henri Falcon Faltrump due to his dollarization proposal and labeled Javier Bertucci as Little Soup Bertucci referring to his charity activities of delivering soup to impoverished Venezuelans 76 Bertucci denounced that his campaign manager in Sucre state Angel Arias was shot in the stomach on 27 April while making preparations for a midday speech scheduled in Cumana According to a press release of Bertucci s party a 25 year old man shot Arias after trying to steal his cellphone the robber did not achieve his mission and fled by motorcycle leaving the manager at the scene Aria was moved to a health center to be attended to his wounds 77 I would take a rifle to start the armed revolution This people will never stand a sellout and capitalist government that is why we have to prepare ourselves to defend in peace the sovereignty and democracy of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro On 1 May in Cojedes state Maduro threatened taking action against supermarkets and food centers nationwide if they increased the prices of products in the following days declaring that after the 20 May election I ll be president anyway by hook or by crook 78 79 On 2 May Maduro warned in a campaign rally in Vargas state that if a capitalist government that handed over the country s resources were to be installed he would take up arms himself to defend the revolution stating I would take a rifle to start the armed revolution These people will never stand for a sellout and capitalist government that is why we have to prepare ourselves to defend in peace the sovereignty and democracy of Venezuela 80 On 18 May Maduro stated Venezuela has become the focus and the elections in a world election I will accept the results whatever they are citation needed He said that his opponent Henri Falcon was the International Monetary Fund s candidate Maduro affirmed not to care about the position of the countries that declared that they will dismiss the presidential elections saying What fuck do I give that Europe does not recognize me that Washington does not recognize me I care about what the Venezuelan people say 81 On 11 May President Maduro said during a campaign rally in Trujillo state Imperialism go fuck yourself with your orders because here in Venezuela the sovereign people rules 82 Before a campaign rally in Charallave on 15 May 2018 President Maduro s group handed out free mangoes to supporters suffering from hunger who had arrived at the event 83 On 16 May President Maduro said that he foresaw a great victory and accused the US and France of trying to put pressure on the country to overthrow his government saying The Ku Klux Klan of Washington is pursuing us Maduro also blamed Venezuela s economic difficulties on the economic forces of the United States and the oligarchy that did not conform when it lost political power citation needed On 17 May the campaign closure rally of Nicolas Maduro took place on Bolivar Avenue in Caracas During his speech of the campaign closure Maduro expressed that Bolivar Avenue was overwhelmed but Winston Vallenilla once asked the assistants to come closer to fill the empty spaces and publications on social networks of deputy Luis Florido and other persons refuted the claim 84 85 86 Argentine former football player Diego Maradona and former reality star Tila Tequila participated and danced in the rally 87 88 The same day Bertucci condemned the international sanctions against Venezuela saying How can they ask for sanctions against the country Oh it is easy They are abroad eating well sleeping well living in luxurious homes Asking for the United States government to tighten sanctions and to tighten the noose on the Venezuelan people I think that is irresponsible That s not what we need citation needed A Venezuelan in Rome published a video explaining that he found a large painting on a wall promoting the vote for Maduro and complaining that the country s money is wasted on placing said messages abroad 89 Demonstrations editOn 16 May the opposition and dissident chavismo called for a protest to reject the elections The demonstrators marched to the seat of the Organization of American States in Caracas In the morning officials of the Bolivarian National Police with anti riot equipment forced the protesters in the Brion Square es in Chacao to leave arguing they did not have permission to meet in the public space The Caracas Metro staff closed the Chacaito station before the demonstration started as a security measure as they informed in the loudspeakers to the users Politicians such as Delsa Solorzano Juan Requesens Ivlev Silva and Andres Velasquez participated 90 91 Opinion polls edit nbsp Empty polling station in Caracas on election day In a January 2018 poll surrounding the presidential election Meganalisis stated that only 29 of respondents desired to vote in the elections and 72 5 stated that they did not trust the CNE electoral body Those who chose not to vote had various reasons 45 believed that even if they voted hunger would continue 20 believed it was a waste of time and 13 believed that the opposition had betrayed the country As for the support of political parties 81 stated that they were not part of any party 12 were part of the government PSUV party and 6 supported the opposition led MUD 92 93 According to Meganalisis an April 2018 poll found that 65 4 of respondents believed that Falcon was working in collaboration with President Maduro to create the fraudulent appearance of a legitimate democratic election 94 Falcon disputes this however stating that electoral boycotts almost never work In country after country opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power 95 Presidential election Date s conducted Pollster Sample size Maduro Falcon Bertucci Quijada Ratti Others None Undecided Lead 10 16 May 2018 Varianzas 1000 23 7 32 2 14 8 Retired 0 8 28 5 8 5 9 16 May 2018 Hercon 1000 28 7 38 1 9 3 0 4 Retired 1 4 22 1 9 4 8 15 May 2018 Datanalisis 20 33 18 Retired 13 10 May 2018 Datanalisis 1 000 16 7 27 6 13 3 0 2 0 2 4 7 19 7 11 1 20 Apr 4 May 2018 ICS permanent dead link 3 000 55 9 25 4 16 2 30 5 2 18 Apr 2018 Hinterlaces 1 050 51 28 16 5 23 0 18 April 2018 Meganalisis 1 050 15 3 6 2 0 9 0 07 0 05 77 1 61 8 11 April 2018 Datanalisis 32 0 37 0 14 0 17 0 5 0 9 April 2018 Datincorp 1 996 22 0 34 0 9 2 0 33 0 12 0 8 April 2018 Datanalisis 800 34 0 40 0 6 0 5 March 2018 Datanalisis 28 39 19 11 19 29 Mar 2018 Datanalisis 800 34 3 41 4 7 1 27 Feb 4 Mar 2018 Meganalisis 1 090 13 7 3 5 0 03 0 05 0 01 82 5 68 8 19 February 2018 Datincorp 1 499 28 0 31 0 31 0 10 0 3 0 1 14 Feb 2018 Datanalisis 1 000 26 1 38 0 40 4 Leopoldo Lopez 2 1 24 Jan 13 Feb 2018 Hercon 1 200 19 5 6 9 21 0 Lorenzo Mendoza 26 8 5 8 8 February 2018 Consultores 30 11 32 10 5 25 24 7 21 5 25 Jan 5 Feb 2018 Ivad 1 200 17 6 23 6 13 5 10 6 6 0 22 27 Jan 2018 Meganalisis 1 120 9 4 28 7 Lorenzo Mendoza 52 3 23 6 Date s conducted Pollster Sample size MUD GPPSB AP Others Undecided Lead 26 January 2018 MUD disqualified 10 January 2018 Datincorp 1 009 55 21 4 34 0 10 January 2018 Datincorp 1 009 59 19 40 0 14 December 2017 Delphos 52 8 27 7 10 6 25 1 7 December 2017 Venebarometro 1 200 46 3 28 6 25 1 17 7 10 Nov 23 Nov 2017 Datanalisis 997 44 4 9 0 35 4 20 29 Aug 2017 Hercon 1 200 56 1 15 6 3 3 25 1 40 5 10 17 May 2017 UCV 1 200 52 14 22 12 38 28 Jan 8 Feb 2017 Venebarometro 1 200 44 8 25 8 23 4 6 1 29 0 20 Jan 6 Feb 2017 Hercon 1 200 55 4 19 9 16 0 8 6 35 5 29 Nov 12 Dec 2016 Datanalisis 1 200 58 14 4 9 6 43 6 15 30 Nov 2016 Hercon 1 300 53 13 22 1 15 53 9 13 31 03 12 24 Nov 2016 Venebarometro 1 200 52 8 26 5 14 4 6 3 26 3 20 24 Jul 2016 Meganalisis Archived 16 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine 1 220 66 1 23 2 10 6 52 5 1 16 Apr 2016 Hercon 1 200 73 2 20 7 42 9 5 15 Sep 2015 Venebarometro 1 200 70 9 17 0 12 1 53 9 8 16 Aug 2015 Ivad 1 200 69 2 18 1 18 1 51 1 29 September 2014 Ivad 800 61 1 26 8 12 1 34 3 4 June 2014 Hercon 62 5 27 1 10 4 35 4 10 22 Apr 2014 Venebarometro 1 200 49 6 34 6 15 8 15 10 26 Mar 2014 ICS Archived 2 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine 1 400 33 7 55 8 9 2 22 1 14 Feb 14 Mar 2014 Keller 1 200 48 34 3 10 14 19 26 Jul 2013 Ivad 45 1 39 3 15 7 5 8 17 Jun 6 Jul 2013 Varianzas 2 000 50 0 44 6 5 4 5 4 2 11 May 2013 Hercon 1 300 54 8 40 4 4 8 14 4 28 Apr 5 May 2013 Ivad 1 200 45 8 40 8 5 Controversies and issues editNational Electoral Council bias edit While nothing in the Venezuelan constitution prevents elections from being called early the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory noted that the call for elections was disrespecting the tradition of organizing them in December to avoid an extended transition 96 with exceptions in the year 2000 during the re legitimization of all public powers by the approval of a new constitution in October 2012 for the illness of Hugo Chavez and in April 2013 for being an election due to the death of the president maintaining that the decision announced again showed the political bias of the electoral referee since it included elements that made it difficult to have an election under equal conditions 97 and that the CNE struck a blow to democratic plurality by preventing opposition parties from participating in the presidential election 98 It also stated that since 2016 the electoral justice system administered in the country was not impartial citing the cases of the indigenous deputies of the Amazonas state who were dismissed from their positions for alleged irregularities in their election which after two years have not been proven while the fraud allegations made in October 2017 by the candidate to the governorship of Bolivar Andres Velasquez had yet not been investigated 97 Electoral Registry edit The Venezuelan Electoral Registry determines the number of people that will vote and in it the voters that must comply with mandatory electoral service in electoral boards are chosen as well as the regional municipal and parochial boards for the elections 35 While in the 2012 presidential elections the CNE took two months to carry out the data update migration and inscription of new voters in the Electoral Registry in the 2018 elections the voters only had ten days between 10 and 20 February according to both the first 22 April and the definitive 20 May electoral schedules both inside and outside the country and the audits to the data were shortened from months to a few days 99 The Electoral Registry has not been audited since 2005 with no independent observation for over a decade by the date of the election 100 It is clear that the CNE has done little to encourage the inscription of these new voters in the registry with institutional campaigns breaking the current electoral law that which obligates it to deploy inscription and update centers in sectors of difficult access and or of highest population concentration in all the national territory and in any moment of the year Venezuelan Electoral Observatory In 2012 more than 1 300 updates of the Electoral Registry points were deployed on a national scale but in 2018 less than half were opened 531 The Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy estimated in the report The Citizen Observation of the Electoral Registry 2017 that at least 1 769 035 young voters were not inscribed in the Electoral Registry by December 2017 For the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory the CNE has done little to encourage the inscription of these new voters in the registry with institutional campaigns breaking the current electoral law that which obligates it to deploy inscription and update centers in sectors of difficult access and or of highest population concentration in all the national territory and in any moment of the year according to Article 33 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes es and that what is needed for the citizen to exercise their right to vote is not being done 99 On 15 February President Maduro without being an electoral authority announced the extension for five days for the inscription in the electoral registry abroad and informed the opening of the Venezuelan consulate in Miami so that Venezuelans living in the city could make changes and participate The second opening of the registry happened with the elections date change to 20 May and it was opened from 2 to 10 March In theory the registry allowed to update information or inscribe new voters for 24 days abroad the country and 19 in Venezuela but electoral experts denounced obstacles for the inscription of Venezuelans abroad because besides being insufficient it led to other obstacles that did not allow for more assistance to embassies or consultares The electoral registry abroad only increased by 7 028 voters which does not represent even the 0 5 of the Venezuelans estimated abroad Nationally by 910 272 new voters were registered adding to the 20 759 809 existing voters Voto Joven complained because the consultes did not work on holidays only worked on office hours without enough time or information as well as the requirement to ask for a permanent visa to those who live in the countries where the opening was formalized even though to vote only a laminated identity card is needed 35 The Observatory also denounced that The ER of Venezuelans abroad has been in a sort of illegal suspension since 2012 a measure violatory of the current electoral law and that according to the last report of the CNE on 30 April 2017 the Venezuelans with the right to vote abroad are only 101 595 voters a number much lower than the migrants with the right to vote in comparison to the estimates of between 2 and 4 million Venezuelans living abroad Even though to vote only a laminated identity card is needed active passports original birth certificates visas residence letters and other administrative requirements not covered by law were requested by consulates and embassies preventing their participation in the elections 99 Agreement of Electoral Guarantees edit The Agreement of Electoral Guarantees is a scam for the citizen since it covers points already established in the Law and that the CNE has not met Beatriz Borges Peace and Justice Center director nbsp Red point in Caracas near a polling station in violation of the electoral norm The signing of the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees by three of the original five presidential candidates Maduro Falcon and Bertucci was presented by the candidates as an extension of the electoral norms The agreement included among other aspects the move to eliminate pro government red points controlled by chavistas which after the agreement had to be moved farther away from voting centers the call for international observers and the return to voting center locations changed during the Constituent Assembly elections and the 2017 regional elections The agreement has been questioned and rejected by the NGOs Voto Joven CEPAZ and the Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy On 27 March the CEPAZ director Beatriz Borges declared that the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees is a scam for the citizen since it covers initiatives that were already established in the Law and that the CNE has not met Despite that the presidential candidates Henri Falcon Javier Bertucci and Luis Alejandro Ratti denounced the violation of guarantees provided in the agreement on 2 May the president of the CNE Tibisay Lucena contradicted the complaints and assured that the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees was fulfilled in its entirety 101 Vote buying edit nbsp Carnet de la PatriaReports of vote buying were also prevalent during the presidential campaigning Venezuelans suffering from hunger were pressured to vote for Maduro with the government bribing potential supporters with food 102 Maduro promised rewards for citizens who scanned their Carnet de la Patria at red points near the voting booth which would record whether or not they had voted Voters who scanned their cards would later receive a text message thanking them for supporting Maduro People familiar with the system and cardholders said that these prizes were never delivered 103 Everyone who has a Carnet de la Patria has to go to vote on 20 May I am thinking of giving a prize to the people of Venezuela who go out to vote that day with the Carnet de la Patria President Nicolas Maduro 28 April 2018 104 In a visit to Delta Amacuro president and reelection candidate Nicolas Maduro gave away eight motor boats nine ambulances and reopened the Antonio Diaz Tucupita Airport among other announcements violating Article 223 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes which forbids the use of state resources during election campaigns as well as one of the prerogatives in the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees signed by the presidential candidates to the CNE 105 106 107 On 8 May Maduro again violated the electoral law during an electoral act in the Amazonas state by promising to give fuel to the entity in exchange for votes 108 109 110 111 Medical care and voter fraud edit This section may contain citations that do not verify the text Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please check for citation inaccuracies May 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message This section relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources 2018 Venezuelan presidential election news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2019 Mission Barrio Adentro was a program established by Chavez to bring medical care to poor neighborhoods it was staffed by Cubans that were sent to Venezuela in exchange for petroleum The New York Times interviewed Cuban medical professionals in 2019 who had worked for Barrio Adentro prior to the election sixteen revealed that they were required to participate in voting fraud 112 In the earlier 2013 election four of the Cubans said that command centers for elections were placed near clinics to facilitate dispatching doctors to pressure residents 112 But they also described a system of deliberate political manipulation their services as medical professionals were wielded to secure votes for the governing Socialist Party often through coercion they told The New York Times 112 Facing a shortage of supplies and medicine they were instructed to withhold treatment even for emergencies so supplies and treatment could be doled out closer to the election part of a national strategy to compel patients to vote for the government 112 They reported that life saving treatment was denied to patients who supported the opposition As the election neared they were sent door to door on house visits with a political purpose to hand out medicine and enlist voters for Venezuela s Socialist Party 112 Patients were warned that they could lose their medical care if they did not vote for the socialist party and that if Maduro lost ties would be broken with Cuba and Venezuelans would lose all medical care Patients with chronic conditions at risk of death if they couldn t get medicine were a particular focus of these tactics One said that government officials were posing as doctors to make these house calls before elections We the doctors were asked to give our extra robes to people The fake doctors were even giving out medicines without knowing what they were or how to use them he said 112 Conduct editThe electoral conduct has been described as being fraudulent 113 with the call for an election by the pro government Constituent National Assembly being declared unconstitutional in the first place especially when the body moved the election date ahead from December to April 100 The National Electoral Council CNE which is charged with overseeing elections in Venezuela is also controlled by Maduro sympathizers 100 The Venezuelan government has also been accused of excluding opposition candidates handpicking candidates voter intimidation vote buying and offering food to those who vote for President Maduro 100 113 No recognized electoral observers were reported to be present for the elections 100 Announcement edit The 1999 Venezuelan constitution establishes that the Electoral Branch conformed by the National Electoral Council and its subordinate organisms is responsible for the organization administration direction and surveillance of all the acts related to the election of positions of representation of the branches of government as well as referendums Despite this the Constituent Assembly issued a decree in January 2018 ordering the CNE to organize the presidential elections to be held in April 35 The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory declared that the decision announced by the CNE evidences once more the political bias of the electoral arbitrator and warned that 74 days are insufficient to guarantee the equality and transparency of the elections 98 We deeply regret that elections were summoned without a broad agreement of its schedule nor of the conditions for an inclusive and credible electoral process Federica Mogherini 114 The Observatory pointed out that phases of the process such as the selection of new board members the choosing of subordinate electoral organisms in public raffles the deployment of extraordinary journeys of inscription clarification needed the update of the Electoral Registry in a broad span that allows the incorporation of the largest amount of Venezuelans the maintenance of the voting machines the appropriate implementation of technical audits that guarantee the proper functioning of the automated voting system and the organization of quality international missions would all be affected due to the lack of time 98 The Electoral Citizen Network described as irregular the order of the Constituent Assembly to summon presidential elections before 30 April 2018 defining that it was a violation of the constitution and civil rights 115 Like the 2017 municipal elections the announcement was made less than six months in advance the time necessary to facilitate the lapses established in the normal electoral process Sumate and Voto Joven indicated that this would shorten the terms of the Electoral Registry generating a hasty and little transparent process The Electoral Citizen Network demanded the Electoral Branch the performance of special operatives for the inscription and update of voters in Venezuela and abroad 116 117 Ramon Guillermo Aveledo former executive secretary of the Democratic Unity Roundtable compared the elections to the 1957 referendum of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez noting that Article 82 and the Organic Law for the Public Municipal Branch specifies the prohibition that the elections for municipal positions are carried out along with the national elections and that the mandate of the National Assembly ends in 2021 meaning that shortening its period something not provided in the constitution or the Venezuelan electoral laws is dissolving it which would be considered a coup d etat against the Legislative Branch 118 Electoral schedule edit Two weeks after the Constituent Assembly ordered the elections and following the failure of the dialogue between the Bolivarian government and the opposition in the Dominican Republic the CNE fixed 22 April 2018 as the day of the elections in a press conference also announcing 15 audits and giving some dates but without formally disclosing the electoral schedule After changing the date of the elections to 20 May 2018 on 1 March the CNE took 13 days to disclose the schedule The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and the Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy declared that the CNE has reduced the terms in each of the phases of the electoral schedule for the presidential elections since 2013 and in comparison to the 2006 and 2012 schedules with the 2018 one the spans of the phases went from having up to three months to only two or three days in fundamental aspects according to the last announcement of the elections Both the time allotted for applications toward the Electoral Registry and the electoral campaigns were significantly reduced To determine the electoral districts the CNE must comply with the population estimates provided by the state run National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela es which in turn requires the approval of the National Assembly first This step was omitted and the CNE published the districts for the legislative councils at its own discretion without disclosing its process and without answering any complaints 35 On 26 March the Peace and Justice Center CEPAZ denounced how the CNE changed the schedule of the 20 May elections clandestinely and surreptitiously what it constituted as a new irregularity that prevents the adequate information about the electoral offers from being guaranteed and facilitated to the voters referring to the modification made for the ballot choices by the political parties electoral groups indigenous organizations initiatives carried out on 24 March and for the regional candidates they were scheduled for 26 March in the 23 regional offices of the CNE According to the Electoral Branch schedule published on 13 March the choice on ballot for national organizations would be carried out on 21 March and in the case of the regional ones on 22 March but each one was postponed between three and four days prompting CEPAZ to warn that due to the opaque and quiet modification of the electoral schedule five days were removed from the production and distribution process of the invalid electoral ballots further diminishing the possibility of having voters informed 119 The Venezuelan Electoral Observatory stressed in its report about the elections that the process for nominating presidential candidates was only allowed for only three days in 2018 from 26 to 28 February while the modification and substitution of nominations the CNE enabled 118 days on 2012 and only 2 March in 2018 for this occasion The Observatory also stressed that although the terms were changed to add the legislative councils this did not mean a further extension of the days because 16 activities were compressed to be carried out in only 17 days a schedule in which no task lasted more than eight days The electoral schedule did not include national observers nor international accompaniment which the CNE accepted until 2015 After the signature of the Agreement of Electoral Guarantees on 1 March by the political parties Great Patriotic Pole Movimiento al Socialismo Avanzada Progresista and COPEI the United Nations was requested to head an electoral mission but the organization refused to accept the offer even after receiving a formal invitation and accepting visits from principal candidates or their representatives 35 Campaigning edit It should be prevented that an official such as the president use the communication platform to take advantage of the other candidates In this election there are several who have propaganda on television but there is no CNE that limits the number of times that is transmitted daily neither the minutes nor the content Francisco Castro national coordinator of Sumate The presidential and legislative councils campaign started on 22 April and ended on 17 May at midnight according to the schedule approved by the CNE However candidates postulated for the presidency or the reelection carried out activities with the electorate and exposed proposals that will be executed in case of being elected violating Article 75 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes es 75 Francisco Castro national coordinator of Sumate pointed out that the CNE provided only 26 days for the national campaigning explaining that the term does not allow candidates to have enough time to promote their ideas and call for participation so they are forced to anticipate their campaign By tradition the process lasts more than 60 days noting that the CNE began the process only 80 days prior to the election of more than 500 positions reducing the time of the activities Equally he indicated that the CNE does not regulate pre campaign activities and stated that as long as there is not an explicit call to vote then the candidate cannot be sanctioned Castro explained that the pattern carried out since the government of Hugo Chavez is repeated in which electoral campaigns are used to inaugurate works and make promises He continued by stating that the practice should be prevented that an official such as the president uses the communication platform to take advantage of the other candidates saying that during the elections there were several candidates who used propaganda on television but that the CNE does not limit the number of minutes the content or the number of times that it is transmitted daily 75 Ignacio Avalos director of the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and political scientist Luis Salamanca agreed that until now an electoral environment or government project does not exist but rather a struggle to achieve power stressing that electoral competition was suppressed and that an electoral campaign was designed for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela s own convenience Salamanca asserted that Maduro distributes benefits to obtain votes and Falcon offers benefits in the future in exchange for votes Neither has enough weight to mobilize the country electorally 75 The Tal Cual newspaper published an article describing Maduro s final campaign rally on 17 May as the greatest demonstration of corruption criticizing the shameless use of state resources including the use of ministerial staff and publishing audio which revealed that promotion of the final rally was created using the payroll of government offices Tal Cual also published the PSUV s operative plan of the rally which did not include tasks directed towards PSUV party members but instead assigns responsibilities to the state ministries and other public institutions including the mobilization of people The operative plan details that the state run oil company PDVSA installed the main stage generators the backing and the sound systems that the Defense Ministry was in charge of the fireworks detonations that the Ministry for Mining Development was responsible for decoration and that other institutions were responsible for the installation of portable bathrooms visual displays barriers awnings and refreshments In page six of the PSUV plan it is also written that the people that surrounded the stage from which Maduro was speaking were militias dressed as civilians 120 121 Results editBy the time polls were to officially close at 6 00pm VST it was reported by a CNE source that voter turnout was only 32 3 122 the lowest turnout in Venezuela s modern democratic history since the 1958 coup d etat 3 CNE data would later show that turnout was 46 1 a record low 16 Both Falcon and Bertucci rejected the results stating that there were too many irregularities 16 As the results were read by the CNE many Venezuelans throughout Caracas began a cacerolazo protest against Maduro with some beginning to barricade streets 123 CandidatePartyVotes Nicolas MaduroUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela6 248 86467 85Henri FalconProgressive Advance1 927 95820 93Javier BertucciEsperanza por El Cambio989 76110 75Reinaldo QuijadaPopular Political Unit 89 es 43 1940 47Total9 209 777100 00Valid votes9 209 77798 11Invalid blank votes177 6721 89Total votes9 387 449100 00Registered voters turnout20 526 97845 73Source CNE IFESAftermath editTibisay Lucena stated that the CNE forbade the payment to voters offered by Maduro 124 On 22 May when the CNE proclaimed Maduro as president Maduro announced the creation of a presidential commission for economic advice 125 The same day Maduro declared as personae non gratae American diplomats Todd D Robinson and Brian Naranjo who had to leave the country within 48 hours citation needed In the week prior to the presidential elections around 40 military personnel from different parts of the country were arrested On 16 May officials of the Direccion General Contrainteligencia Militar DGCIM arrested 12 members of the National Armed Forces with the frigate lieutenant rank Three days later 20 military people were detained and on 21 May six more were arrested Among the detainees are six lieutenant colonels a first lieutenant and two sergeants arrested on the charges of crimes against military decorum treason and instigation of rebellion Foro Penal lawyer Mariana Ortega informed receiving reports of arbitrary detentions 126 On 24 May Maduro took oath among the Constituent Assembly a ceremony that should have taken place in January 2019 with the opposition led National Assembly in accordance with Article 231 of the Venezuelan constitution 127 The National Assembly rejected the election s results calling them an electoral farce 128 and declared that Maduro must be considered a usurper 129 However Maduro s new six year term did not begin until 10 January 2019 when he took his official oath at a public ceremony in Caracas in front of the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal 130 The ceremony was attended by spectators such as Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and president of Bolivia Evo Morales 130 Between the May 2018 presidential election and Maduro s inauguration there were calls to establish a transitional government 131 132 133 CEO of Venezuela Al Dia Manuel Corao argued that Maduro was no longer the president and that the tendencies in Venezuela represented in the National Assembly wish to designate a transitional government that fills the vacuum of power and liberates Venezuelans from Communist evil 131 Former Venezuelan legislator Alexis Ortiz stated that Castrochavism rots in incompetence corruption and surrender of national sovereignty calling on a transitional government to work on reconciliation establish general elections receive humanitarian assistance and protect civil liberties among other requests 132 A November 2018 report by the International Crisis Group said that n eighboring countries and other foreign powers have taken steps including sanction to achieve some kind of negotiated transition which is still the best way out of the crisis 133 In January 2019 the National Assembly declared the results of the election invalid and invoked clauses of the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution to appoint National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido as acting president precipitating the Venezuelan presidential crisis Maduro s supporters refused to acknowledge the move and Guaido was placed under arrest for a short time Several international organizations and independent countries have lined up to support either side of the conflict and the former Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela in exile in Panama since 2017 has given its support to the legitimacy of the National Assembly s moves citation needed Reactions editDomestic edit The Democratic Unity Roundtable MUD opposition coalition confirmed on 21 February 2018 that it would not participate in the elections since they do not comply with democratic conditions or guarantees 134 Henri Falcon independent presidential candidate and former Lara State Governor lambasted the Democratic Unity Roundtable for their boycott of the elections and stated You will disappear as politicians and as parties for not understanding the dynamics of a country that demands solutions and not conflict and also stated four parties those participating in the elections believe in national unity citation needed Movimiento Estudiantil rejected the elections saying they were called outside of the lapses established by our Carta Magna and stated that it they were requested by an unconstitutional incompetent body erected on the blood of hundreds of Venezuelans considering that the elections are not designed for the Venezuelan public but were created to perpetuate the hell and the misery lived today The movement stated that it would not participate in the process and demanded political leaders not to endorse the process 135 136 The NGO Foro Penal decided not to endorse the announcement of the presidential elections based on the fact that the Constituent Assembly does not have constitutional faculties to summon an election because it is only empowered to draft a new constitution assuring that it would be seizing functions from other political bodies when calling for elections and that the announcement is violating the right of Venezuelans to choose in valid and fair conditions attached to the constitution 137 Both the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela and the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce Fedecamaras rejected and asked to postpone the elections in statements published on the week of the elections 138 139 The head of the Caracas based Global Observatory of Communication and Democracy Griselda Colina and former Director of the Carter Center s Americas Program Jennifer McCoy concluded that Maduro s victory could not be considered democratic due to a wide range of failings in prevailing electoral conditions 140 International edit Supranational bodies edit United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra ad al Hussein noted that his office had concerns that reports of extrajudicial killings cast doubts on fairness stating this context does not in any way fulfill minimal conditions for free and credible elections 141 On 23 March 2018 a United Nations official informed that the organization would not offer electoral assistance in the elections without explaining the motives Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that a letter was sent to Venezuelan authorities regarding the request of electoral experts but did not explain the content 40 nbsp Representatives of Lima Group members gathered on 13 February 2018 Prior to the elections the Lima Group with its participating nations of Argentina Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Guatemala Guyana Honduras Mexico Panama Paraguay Peru and Saint Lucia stated that they would not recognize the results of the presidential elections due to the perceived lack of transparency 142 With the support of the Lima Group the Peruvian foreign minister Cayetana Aljovin informed that the presence of President Maduro in the 8th Summit of the Americas would not be welcome in said encounter quoting the 2001 Quebec Declaration which states that the rupture of democracy constitutes an insuperable obstacle for the participation of a State in the Summit of the Americas citation needed After the vote Canada joined the group in condemning the election as fraudulent 143 On 23 February 2018 at a special session supported by its Secretary General Luis Almagro the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States OAS adopted a resolution that asks the Venezuelan government to reconsider the announcement of the presidential elections and to present a new electoral schedule to make possible the performance of elections with all the guarantees needed The 19 countries that supported the resolution were Argentina Bahamas Barbados Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Guatemala Guyana Honduras Jamaica Mexico Panama Paraguay Peru Saint Lucia the United States and Uruguay 144 145 Following a meeting held on 10 May the Inter American Commission on Human Rights IACHR published a document stating that the process did not meet international standards that the CNE electoral body was biased and that the hurried announcement has seriously affected the warranty of the universal vote for the new voters and Venezuelans abroad concluding that the election would not meet the minimal conditions needed for the realization of free fair and reliable elections in Venezuela 146 147 148 On 8 February the European Parliament with 480 votes in favor 51 against and 70 abstentions adopted a resolution demanding sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro Vice President Tareck el Aissami and other officials considering them responsible for the aggravation of the crisis 149 The European Union through the European Parliament also ruled that it would not recognize the 20 May elections and called the electoral process fraudulent 11 On 3 May 2018 the European Parliament again called for the immediate suspension of the 20 May election until free and fair elections were held on a schedule agreed upon with the participation of all relevant actors and political parties 12 Governments edit The governments of Argentina 150 Canada 151 Chile 152 Colombia 142 Costa Rica 153 France 154 Jamaica 155 Panama 156 Paraguay Spain 157 the United States citation needed and Uruguay 158 directly criticized the electoral process in various ways condemning the disqualification and imprisonment of MUD individuals the lack of advanced notice for the election date and the bias of electoral bodies describing such actions by the Venezuelan government antidemocratic 159 160 Remaining member governments representing countries from the Lima Group including Brazil Guatemala Guyana Honduras Mexico Peru and Saint Lucia denounced the elections in a joint statement through declarations made by the organization 142 Meanwhile the governments of Antigua and Barbuda 161 Bolivia 162 non primary source needed Cuba 163 Nicaragua citation needed North Korea 164 and Russia citation needed reacted to the call for elections positively showing support for the process and demanded that there be no intervention Recognition edit nbsp Map of countries which recognized Venezuela s 2018 presidential election Venezuela Recognize Do not recognize Not stated Domestic edit The opposition led National Assembly of Venezuela rejected the results calling them an electoral farce 128 The Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition coalition formalized their dismissal of the electoral results on a legislative level 129 Candidate Henri Falcon denounced the election before the announcement of the results 165 CNE rector and president of the Political Participation and Finance Commission Luis Emilio Rondon announced his rejection of the electoral results stating that clearly they were flawed Rondon offered the office of the commission to the candidates to file their irregularities reports that they exposed to organize the claims that correspond to the clarification of all these aspects that disrupt the electoral process 166 International edit Unrecognized edit The European Union after calling for the suspension of the elections stated that they would not recognize the results 11 12 On 28 May 2018 the Council of the European Union with its members representing the executive governments of members states including Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden and the United Kingdom refused to recognize the election results and called for new democratic elections 167 The Lima Group comprising Argentina Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Guatemala Guyana Honduras Mexico Panama Paraguay Peru and Saint Lucia announced that it would not recognize the results In written statements the Group s members said they would reduce their diplomatic relations consult with their ambassadors and summon the Venezuelan ambassadors in their countries to protest against the election for not complying with international standards for a free fair and transparent process 168 169 170 The leaders of the G7 group Canada France Germany Italy Japan the United Kingdom and the United States joined the European Union in rejecting the elections and denounced that their development did not comply with international standards and did not grant basic guarantees 171 Individually Australia 14 Chile 172 France 173 Germany the Netherlands 174 New Zealand 175 Spain 176 Switzerland 177 the United Kingdom citation needed the United States 13 and Georgia 178 also refused to recognize the election Recognized edit Antigua and Barbuda 161 Belarus Bolivia China Cuba Dominica Egypt El Salvador Iran North Korea 164 South Africa Russia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Syria Turkey the only NATO member Vietnam and the disputed state of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic Western Sahara recognized the election result 102 179 180 181 182 183 The Houthis Ansar Allah who took over the government of Yemen in 2014 2015 congratulated Maduro on the election results 184 Many of the Caribbean nations that recognized the election rely on Venezuela for oil as part of the Petrocaribe programme 181 Notes editReferences edit Divulgacion Electoral 2018 cne gov ve Archived from the original on 7 June 2019 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Martinez Ana Isabel 1 March 2018 Venezuela postpones presidential election to May 20 Reuters Retrieved 1 March 2018 a b c The Latest Venezuela Opposition Calls Election a Farce U S News amp World Report Associated Press 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 a b Venezuela opposition weighs election run BBC News 8 February 2018 Retrieved 8 February 2018 CNE El 22 de abril se realizaran las presidenciales Globovision in Spanish 7 February 2018 Retrieved 7 February 2018 a b Redaccion Voz de America 1 March 2018 Postergan elecciones en Venezuela hasta mayo in Spanish Voice of America Retrieved 1 March 2018 Sen Ashish Kumar 18 May 2018 Venezuela s Sham Election Atlantic Council Retrieved 20 May 2018 Nicolas Maduro is expected to be re elected president of Venezuela on May 20 in an election that most experts agree is a sham Venezuela s sham presidential election Financial Times 16 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 The vote of course is a sham Support is bought via ration cards issued to state workers with the implicit threat that both job and card are at risk if they vote against the government Meanwhile the country s highest profile opposition leaders are barred from running in exile or under arrest Maduro gana con la abstencion historica mas alta en comicios presidenciales Efecto Cocuyo 20 May 2018 Archived from the original on 21 December 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 23 February 2018 Foro Penal no avala convocatoria a elecciones presidenciales Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 1 April 2019 Retrieved 24 February 2018 Leon Ibis 9 December 2017 Observadores electorales detectan 11 irregularidades en el proceso de municipales Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 9 June 2019 Retrieved 10 December 2017 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 15 February 2018 CNE obstaculiza inscripcion de venezolanos en Registro Electoral afirman ONG Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 11 June 2019 Retrieved 3 March 2018 Leon Rafael 25 January 2018 Adelanto de sufragios acorta plazos de jornadas del RE El Nacional Retrieved 9 February 2018 a b c Parlamento Europeo rechaza las elecciones presidenciales por considerarlas fraudulentas La Patilla in European Spanish 8 February 2018 Retrieved 10 February 2018 a b c Eurocamara pide la suspension inmediata del proceso ilegitimo del 20May en Venezuela La Patilla in European Spanish 3 May 2018 Retrieved 4 May 2018 a b Martin Sabrina 8 February 2018 Union Europea prepara nuevas sanciones contra la dictadura en Venezuela y la estatal PDVSA Panam Post Archived from the original on 4 January 2019 Retrieved 14 February 2018 Estos paises votaron a favor de la resolucion de la OEA sobre Venezuela El Nacional 23 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 La OEA insta a Maduro a cancelar las elecciones presidenciales de abril El Nacional 23 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Wyss Jim 7 February 2018 Solo el 29 de los venezolanos planea votar en las elecciones presidenciales El Nuevo Herald Retrieved 14 February 2018 a b Seis paises reunidos por G 20 desconocen el proceso ilegitimo de Venezuela La Patilla in European Spanish 21 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Wyss Jim 14 April 2018 Washington and Cuba butt heads over Venezuela at heated Americas summit Miami Herald Retrieved 21 May 2018 Raul Castro and Cuban President Congratulate Nicolas Maduro Radio Reloj 22 May 2018 International backlash after Venezuela poll BBC 22 May 2018 Los 9 paises que reconocieron la fraudulenta reeleccion de Nicolas Maduro a pesar del masivo repudio internacional Infobae in Spanish 22 May 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 China Calls on Venezuela to Respect Maduro s Re election Latin American Herald Tribune 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 23 May 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 China asked on Monday that the decision of the Venezuelan people be respected after the re election of Nicolas Maduro as president amid the opposition s demand for new elections citing irregularities Russia s Putin Congratulates Venezuela s Maduro on his Re Election Latin American Herald Tribune 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 23 May 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 Mollman Steve North Korea at least congratulated Nicolas Maduro on winning Venezuela s election Quartz Retrieved 24 May 2018 a b c Phillips Tom 21 May 2018 Venezuela elections Nicolas Maduro wins second term The Guardian Retrieved 22 May 2018 BERTUCCI PIDE NUEVAS ELECCIONES SIN MADURO La Prensa in Spanish 20 May 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 EU nations endorse Venezuela opposition leader over Maduro The Washington Post 4 February 2019 Archived from the original on 9 February 2019 Retrieved 7 February 2019 Venezuela starts validating recall referendum signatures BBC 21 June 2016 Retrieved 8 August 2016 Cawthorne Andrew 1 August 2016 Venezuela election board okays opposition recall push first phase Reuters Retrieved 8 August 2016 a b Venezuela Suspends Recall Campaign Against President Maduro Fox News Channel 20 October 2016 Retrieved 21 October 2016 Mogollon Mery Kraul Chris 21 October 2016 Anger grows as Venezuela blocks effort to recall president Los Angeles Times Retrieved 23 October 2016 Corrales Javier Venezuela s Odd Transition to Dictatorship Americas Quarterly Retrieved 10 December 2016 Brodzinsky Sibylla 21 October 2016 Venezuelans warn of dictatorship after officials block bid to recall Maduro The Guardian Retrieved 10 December 2016 Almagro Maduro se transforma en dictador por negarles a venezolanos derecho a decidir su futuro CNN en Espanol 24 August 2016 Retrieved 10 December 2016 a b Con multitudinarias marchas oposicion venezolana presiono a Maduro para que reactive referendo Ambito Financiero 26 October 2016 Retrieved 27 October 2016 Rosati Andrew 1 November 2016 Venezuela Opposition Cancels Protest Delays Political Trial Bloomberg L P Retrieved 2 November 2016 Venezuela s opposition walks away from Vatican backed talks Deutsche Welle 7 December 2016 Retrieved 9 December 2016 Latin American Herald Tribune After Venezuela Government Fails to Honor Commitments Vatican Pulls Out of Dialogue It Sponsored Latin American Herald Tribune 19 January 2017 Archived from the original on 25 February 2021 Retrieved 20 January 2017 Barbarani Sofia 23 January 2017 Thousands march against Maduro government in Venezuela as crisis deepens The Washington Post Retrieved 26 January 2017 Cawthorne Andrew 24 November 2017 Venezuela s Maduro keeps eye on prize 2018 presidential vote Reuters Retrieved 25 November 2017 Venezuela opposition banned from running in 2018 election BBC News 11 December 2017 Leading Venezuelan party to boycott election Deutsche Welle 17 February 2018 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela IFES Manual Operativo para Miembros Secretaria o Secretario de Mesa Electoral Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Consejo Nacional Electoral Retrieved 28 November 2006 in Spanish Venezuelan Opposition Protests Proposed UN Electoral Observer Mission 15 March 2018 a b c d e f Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 24 April 2018 Las 10 irregularidades de los comicios del 20Mayo Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 25 April 2018 a b Buitrago Deisy 19 May 2018 Venezuela apela a paises amigos para supervisar elecciones Reuters in Spanish Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 Oppenheimer Andres 2 May 2018 Don t be fooled Henri Falcon is a traitor to Venezuela and not Maduro s foe The Miami Herald Retrieved 4 May 2018 Smartmatic Announces Cease of Operations in Venezuela Business Wire 6 March 2018 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Venezuela opposition asks U N not to send observers to May vote Reuters 12 March 2018 a b UN official No aid for controversial Venezuela election Associated Press 23 March 2018 Retrieved 26 March 2018 Canadian observers of Venezuela s controversial election bring solidarity and questions rabble ca rabble ca 12 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Anuncian que Leopoldo Lopez competira en primarias presidenciales de Venezuela La Prensa in Spanish 14 March 2017 Retrieved 25 March 2017 Cardona Lissette 19 March 2017 Por tercera vez Capriles pelearia la presidencia El Financiero Retrieved 25 March 2017 Ex presidente del Parlamento venezolano aspirara a primarias presidenciales El Nuevo Herald 21 March 2017 Retrieved 25 March 2017 Venezuela Opposition Will Boycott Election and Maduro Tightens His Hold The New York Times 21 February 2018 Retrieved 23 February 2018 y que opina la gente DolarPregunta DolarToday in European Spanish Retrieved 10 January 2018 VENEBAROMETRO Diciembre 2017 pdf Retrieved 15 December 2017 via Scribd 2 Estudio Nacional Telefonico Inducido Hercon a2017 Hercon Retrieved 4 September 2017 via Scribd Estudio Hercon Pais Mayo 2017 Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Hercon Retrieved 3 May 2017 via Scribd Venezuela Datanalisis Estudio de Opinion Publica Nacional Enero 2017 Nicolas Maduro Elections Datanalisis Retrieved 3 May 2017 via Scribd Venezolanos exigen cambio urgente para salir del comunismo y solventar grave crisis madurista encuesta Hercon Hercon Retrieved 10 August 2017 Encuesta julio 2015 datanalisis Nicolas Maduro Elections in Spanish Datanalisis 12 August 2015 Retrieved 8 September 2017 via Scribd La oposicion pone al chavismo contra la pared de cara a las elecciones legislativas Nicolas Maduro Elections in Spanish Datanalisis Retrieved 8 September 2017 via Scribd Lideres opositores que no podran ser candidatos en proxima eleccion presidencial de Venezuela La Patilla in European Spanish 23 January 2018 Retrieved 24 January 2018 Kraul Chris Mogollon Mery 16 April 2017 Meet the charismatic opposition leader the Venezuela government just can t silence Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 17 April 2017 a b Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 24 April 2018 Las 10 irregularidades de los comicios del 20Mayo Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 25 April 2018 Accion Democratica y Primero Justicia son los unicos partidos que podran validar ante el CNE La Patilla in European Spanish 27 January 2018 Retrieved 28 January 2018 Con PJ invalidado solo estos partidos podran postular candidato a las presidenciales La Patilla in European Spanish 2 February 2018 Retrieved 4 February 2018 Maduro Me gustaria medirme con Ramos Allup porque seria la lucha del pasado con el presente La Patilla in European Spanish 3 February 2018 Retrieved 4 February 2018 Sesin Carmen 20 October 2017 Is Venezuela s Socialist Party looking past Maduro for next year s elections NBC News Retrieved 24 October 2017 Nicolas Maduro nego que los venezolanos mueren por falta de medicinas Un sistema como el nuestro no existe en otro pais Infobae in Spanish 25 February 2018 Retrieved 27 February 2018 a b Conoce a los candidatos que se mediran con Nicolas Maduro en las presidenciales Globovision in European Spanish 28 February 2018 Retrieved 1 March 2018 a b In Venezuela inflation quadruples to 18 000 percent in two months with no end in sight The Miami Herald 2 May 2018 Retrieved 4 May 2018 Factbox Who could run for Venezuela s presidency Reuters 25 January 2018 Retrieved 23 February 2018 Ex chavista desafia a la MUD y se lanza como candidato El Informador in Spanish 27 February 2018 Retrieved 27 February 2018 Venezuelan opposition to boycott fraudulent election Al Jazeera 21 February 2018 Retrieved 23 February 2018 a b Venezuela evangelical candidate pushes Christian values in midst of Reuters 21 February 2018 Retrieved 27 February 2018 El evangelico Javier Bertucci propone consulta sobre matrimonio igualitario La Patilla in European Spanish 9 April 2018 Retrieved 10 April 2018 El mercado de la fe Javier Bertucci el pastor y empresario venezolano resenado en Panama Papers NTN24 4 April 2016 Archived from the original on 19 February 2018 Retrieved 18 February 2018 Diosa Canales invito a venezolanos a votar por el pastor Javier Bertucci El Nacional 18 February 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 Ingeniero venezolano inscribe su candidatura para presidenciales de abril El Nuevo Herald 26 February 2018 Retrieved 27 February 2018 Alejandro Ratti se retiro de las presidenciales para apoyar a Falcon El Nacional Retrieved 8 May 2018 Ataque de colectivos paramilitares mantiene en terapia intensiva al diputado Teodoro Campos La Patilla in European Spanish 3 April 2018 Retrieved 5 April 2018 CNE castigara a quienes promuevan la abstencion en comicios del 20 de mayo El Estimulo 12 April 2018 Retrieved 28 April 2018 a b c d Martinez Sammy Paola 7 April 2018 Candidatos incumplen ley electoral al realizar campana anticipada El Nacional Retrieved 24 April 2018 Maduro llamara todos los dias a quienes tengan Carnet de la Patria para pedir votos 24 April 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 permanent dead link Segura Brian 27 April 2018 Herido de bala jefe de campana de Javier Bertucci cuando preparaba alocucion en Sucre Caraota Digital Retrieved 28 April 2018 permanent dead link Nicolas Maduro volvio a amenazar a los empresarios O es por las buenas o es por las malas Infobae EFE 1 May 2018 Retrieved 3 May 2018 Presidente Nicolas Maduro advierte acciones contra supermercados si aumentan precios a lo loco Noticias24 EFE 30 April 2018 Archived from the original on 3 May 2018 Retrieved 3 May 2018 Venezuela s Maduro threatens armed revolution ahead of May 20 election The Miami Herald 3 May 2018 Retrieved 4 May 2018 Leon Ibis 2 May 2018 Maduro amenaza con hacer una revolucion armada si se instala un gobierno capitalista Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 3 May 2018 Maduro Vete para el carajo imperio Notitotal 11 May 2018 Retrieved 17 May 2018 Campana de hambre Esto fue lo que repartieron previo al acto de Maduro en Charallave Fotos y Videos La Patilla in European Spanish 16 May 2018 Retrieved 16 May 2018 FOTOS Los angulos que no viste del cierre de campana de Maduro en Caracas El Estimulo 18 May 2018 Falto pueblo Asi lucio la avenida Bolivar en el cierre de campana de Maduro Fotos El Cooperante 17 May 2018 Archived from the original on 19 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Dando pena Asi es el gentio que tiene Maduro en su cierre de campana Fotos EP Mundo 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Asi bailo Maradona durante el cierre de campana de Maduro El Nacional 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Maradona acompano a Maduro en su cierre de campana electoral Panorama 17 May 2018 Archived from the original on 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 NO SE LO PIERDA Venezolano en Italia se encontro un letrero de Maduro y vea lo que hizo Video in Spanish Maduradas 18 May 2018 Hundreds protest against fixed Venezuela election Reuters 16 May 2018 Retrieved 17 May 2018 Oposicion retoma la calle para rechazar comicios del 20 de mayo in Spanish Efecto Cocuyo 16 May 2018 Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 17 May 2018 Wyss Jim 7 February 2018 Poll shows Venezuelans have lost faith in voting even as Maduro seeks new term The Miami Herald Retrieved 8 February 2018 ENCUESTADORA MEGANALISIS Meganalisis 6 February 2018 Retrieved 8 February 2018 Encuesta de Meganalisis preve abstencion de mas del 65 para el 20 de mayo Falcon colaborador La Patilla in European Spanish 18 April 2018 Retrieved 20 April 2018 Falcon Henri 6 March 2018 Opinion Why I Am Running for President of Venezuela The New York Times Retrieved 11 May 2018 My difference is one of strategy Electoral boycotts almost never work In country after country opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power A comprehensive Brookings study of 171 cases of boycotting around the world found that 96 percent of the time the movements promoting the boycotts did not see positive results Venezuelan constitutional assembly orders elections by end of April The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation According to Venezuela s constitution a new six year presidential term must begin in January 2019 While elections can be held any time before then voting typically is held in the final three months of the year to avoid an extended transition a b Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 9 May 2018 Comicios del 20 de mayo no son libres ni imparciales denuncia el Observatorio Electoral Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 10 May 2018 Retrieved 11 May 2018 a b c Leon Ibis 12 February 2018 Estas son las garantias electorales que afecta la convocatoria acelerada del CNE segun el OEV Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 14 February 2018 Retrieved 14 February 2018 a b c Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 15 February 2018 CNE obstaculiza inscripcion de venezolanos en Registro Electoral afirman ONG Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 11 June 2019 a b c d e Maria Delgado Antonio 16 May 2018 Why do so many countries think Maduro will steal Venezuela s presidential election The Miami Herald Retrieved 17 May 2018 Leon Ibis 2 May 2018 Lucena contradice a candidatos y asegura que acuerdo de garantias se cumple Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 3 May 2018 a b As Trump Adds Sanctions on Venezuela Its Neighbors Reject Election Result The New York Times 21 May 2018 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Berwick Angus 14 November 2018 How ZTE helps Venezuela create China style social control Reuters Sumate denuncio complicidad del CNE por compra de votos para reeleccion de Maduro La Patilla in European Spanish 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Sepa que le dejo Maduro a Delta Amacuro in Spanish Con el Mazo Dando 24 April 2018 Retrieved 12 May 2018 Gobierno reactivo Aeropuerto Nacional de Tucupita El Mundo in Spanish 25 April 2018 Archived from the original on 27 April 2018 Retrieved 12 May 2018 Aprobacion de recursos y un breve discurso dio Maduro durante campana en Delta Amacuro Contrapunto 24 April 2018 Archived from the original on 10 February 2019 Retrieved 12 May 2018 Maduro promete ser el protector de Amazonas y golpear a las mafias de la gasolina Efecto Cocuyo 8 May 2018 Archived from the original on 8 May 2018 Maduro prometio casas gasolina y trabajo para Puerto Ayacucho in Spanish El Pitazo 8 May 2018 Retrieved 12 May 2018 permanent dead link Pdvsa activa plan especial de suministro de combustible en Amazonas Ultimas Noticas 9 May 2018 Archived from the original on 12 May 2018 Retrieved 12 May 2018 Pdvsa reactiva suministro de gasolina tras reclamos a Maduro en Amazonas in Spanish El Estimulo 9 May 2018 Retrieved 12 May 2018 a b c d e f It is unspeakable How Maduro used Cuban doctors to coerce Venezuela voters The New York Times 17 March 2019 Retrieved 18 March 2019 a b Camacho Carlos 16 May 2018 Venezuela Political Prisoners Riot as National Guard amp Police Surround Nefarious Prison VIDEO Latin American Herald Tribune Archived from the original on 16 November 2018 Retrieved 17 May 2018 Arreaza Venezuela repudia energicamente declaracion de Alta Representante de la UE Panorama in Spanish Archived from the original on 20 April 2018 Retrieved 5 February 2019 Las seis condiciones necesarias para unas presidenciales justas segun la REC Efecto Cocuyo 23 January 2018 Archived from the original on 8 February 2018 Retrieved 9 February 2018 Leon Ibis 9 December 2017 Observadores electorales detectan 11 irregularidades en el proceso de municipales Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 9 June 2019 Retrieved 10 December 2017 Leon Rafael 25 January 2018 Adelanto de sufragios acorta plazos de jornadas del RE El Nacional Retrieved 9 February 2018 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 23 February 2018 Aveledo compara megaelecciones de Maduro con plebiscito de 1957 Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 27 February 2018 Retrieved 28 February 2018 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 26 March 2018 Cepaz denuncia que el CNE cambia el cronograma electoral de forma clandestina Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 27 March 2018 Corrupcion total asi se monto el cierre de campana de Nicolas Maduro Tal Cual Digital 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Documento del PSUV revela como se utilizaron los ministerios para el cierre de campana de Maduro in Spanish Runrun es Tal Cual Digital 17 May 2018 Retrieved 18 May 2018 Venezuela vote turnout was 32 pct by 6 pm election board source Thomson Reuters Foundation News 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Reportan cacerolazo en varios sectores de Caracas La Patilla in European Spanish 20 May 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 El Poder Electoral venezolano prohibe a Maduro pagar bonos a electores EFE 20 May 2018 Retrieved 25 May 2018 Avendano Shari 22 May 2018 Maduro creara comision de asesores para dar un revolcon economico al pais Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 25 May 2018 Retrieved 25 May 2018 Moreno Losada Vanessa 22 May 2018 Al menos 38 militares fueron detenidos en una semana por supuesta traicion a la patria Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 26 May 2018 Retrieved 25 May 2018 Maduro se juramento ante la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente para el periodo 2019 2025 El Carabobeno EFE 24 May 2018 Retrieved 25 May 2018 a b Asamblea Nacional desconoce resultados del 20M y declara a Nicolas Maduro usurpador de la presidencia NTN24 in Spanish 22 May 2018 Archived from the original on 23 May 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 a b Asamblea Nacional aprobo un acuerdo para reiterar el desconocimiento de la farsa del 20M Panorama 22 May 2018 Archived from the original on 25 May 2018 Retrieved 25 May 2018 a b Venezuela s Maduro begins second term BBC News 10 January 2019 a b Corao Manuel 28 September 2018 Donde esta el gobierno de transicion en Venezuela Where is the transitional government in Venezuela El Nuevo Herald in Spanish Retrieved 26 January 2019 a b Ortiz Alexis 30 November 2018 Primera meta de gobierno de transicion en Venezuela la estabilidad First goal of transitional government in Venezuela stability El Nuevo Herald in Spanish Retrieved 26 January 2019 a b Fuego amigo el caos de la oposicion venezolana Friendly fire the chaos of the Venezuelan opposition International Crisis Group in Spanish 23 November 2018 Retrieved 26 January 2019 La oposicion venezolana rechaza concurrir a las elecciones chavistas El Pais 21 February 2018 Retrieved 21 February 2018 Blanca Julio 20 February 2018 Movimiento Estudiantil Venezolano presidenciales quieren perpetuar el infierno en que vivimos Caraota Digital permanent dead link Brito Karen 20 February 2018 Movimiento Estudiantil Venezolano sobre elecciones presidenciales Buscan perpetuar el infierno y la miseria El Nuevo Pais Archived from the original on 10 June 2018 Retrieved 4 May 2018 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 23 February 2018 Foro Penal no avala convocatoria a elecciones presidenciales Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 1 April 2019 Retrieved 24 February 2018 Fedecamaras aseguro que las elecciones del 20 M solo agravaran la crisis El Nacional 15 May 2018 Retrieved 16 May 2018 Brito Sharon 14 May 2018 Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana pidio nuevamente postergar las elecciones del 20M El Universal Retrieved 16 May 2018 Colina Griselda McCoy Jennifer 18 May 2018 Venezuela elections 2018 evaluating electoral conditions in an authoritarian regime LSE Latin America and Caribbean Retrieved 29 May 2018 U N seeks inquiry into killings in Venezuela says poll not credible Reuters 7 March 2018 Retrieved 8 March 2018 a b c Colombia desconocera resultado de elecciones en Venezuela dice Santos La Patilla in European Spanish 25 January 2018 Retrieved 28 January 2018 Charner Flora Newton Paula Gallon Natalie 21 May 2018 Opponents slam Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro s election victory as a sham CNN Retrieved 13 November 2018 An alliance of 14 Latin American nations and Canada known as the Lima Group released a statement Monday calling the vote illegitimate The alliance includes Argentina Mexico Canada Brazil Chile Colombia Panama Paraguay St Lucia Guyana Peru Honduras Guatemala and Costa Rica Estos paises votaron a favor de la resolucion de la OEA sobre Venezuela El Nacional 23 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 La OEA insta a Maduro a cancelar las elecciones presidenciales de abril El Nacional 23 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 El proceso electoral de Venezuela es llevado ante la CIDH EFE 10 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 La CIDH insto a Venezuela a convocar otras elecciones con sufragio libre El Universal EFE 19 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 La CIDH insta a Venezuela a convocar otras elecciones con sufragio libre Efecto Cocuyo 19 May 2018 Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 Beatriz Becerra la vicepresidente de la Subcomision de Derechos Humanos del Parlamento Europeo Nicolas Maduro es un dictador Infobae in Spanish 8 February 2018 Retrieved 19 November 2023 Macri Argentina no reconocera las elecciones presidenciales en Venezuela La Patilla in European Spanish 27 January 2018 Retrieved 28 January 2018 Canada denuncia que exclusion de la MUD como organizacion politica evidencia practicas antidemocraticas La Patilla in European Spanish 28 January 2018 Retrieved 28 January 2018 Catena Paula 2 May 2018 Gobierno apuesta a endurecer postura por Venezuela en reunion con Grupo de Lima latercera com Retrieved 20 May 2018 La ofensiva se enmarca dentro del discurso mas duro que ha adoptado el Presidente Sebastian Pinera quien ha calificado al gobierno de Maduro como una dictadura Villalobos Paulo 23 February 2018 Costa Rica apoya resolucion que censura convocatoria prematura de elecciones en Venezuela Amelia Rueda Retrieved 14 March 2018 France urges tough Venezuela sanctions BBC News 27 January 2018 Retrieved 28 January 2018 Smith Alecia 8 February 2018 Jamaica Wants to See Democracy Return to Venezuela PM Jamaica Information Service Jamaica Information Service Government of Jamaica Retrieved 8 February 2018 Panama no reconocera resultados los presidenciales en Venezuela El Nacional 20 March 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 No parece que puedan celebrarse elecciones limpias en Venezuela El Nacional 30 January 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Uruguay aseguro que Venezuela va a elecciones con un solo partido El Nacional 26 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Argentina no reconocera elecciones presidenciales en Venezuela www lapatilla com 14 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Canada reclama a Venezuela condiciones injustas de elecciones presidenciales Efecto Cocuyo 28 January 2018 Archived from the original on 27 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Postergacion de elecciones para 20May no cambia nada advierte Embajada de Canada Efecto Cocuyo 2 March 2018 Archived from the original on 3 March 2018 Sebastian Pinera on Twitter Retrieved 20 May 2018 via Twitter Canciller Munoz por adelanto de elecciones en Venezuela Fue un retroceso enorme 14 February 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Wyss Jim 7 February 2018 Solo el 29 de los venezolanos planea votar en las elecciones presidenciales El Nuevo Herald Retrieved 14 February 2018 a b Antigua and Barbuda prepared to draw the line on Venezuela if Caribbean News Service caribbeannewsservice com 21 June 2017 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Morales Evo Evo Morales Twitter Retrieved 11 May 2018 via Twitter Washington and Cuba butt heads over Venezuela at heated Americas summit Miami Herald Retrieved 21 May 2018 a b Newstream KCNA Watch kcnawatch co Henri Falcon Hay que hacer nuevas elecciones en Venezuela Panorama in Spanish Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Rodriguez Rosas Ronny 20 May 2018 Rector Luis Emilio Rondon desconoce resultados de elecciones presidenciales Efecto Cocuyo Archived from the original on 27 May 2018 Retrieved 21 May 2018 Venezuela Council adopts conclusions Consilium Council of the European Union 28 May 2018 Retrieved 28 May 2018 Con Argentina a la cabeza el Grupo de Lima desconoce las elecciones en Venezuela Clarin 21 May 2018 Grupo de Lima desconoce elecciones en Venezuela y llama a consultas a sus embajadores CNN en Espanol 21 May 2018 Grupo Lima formado por 14 paises desconoce resultado electoral de Venezuela El Universal Mexico EFE 21 May 2018 G7 rechazo resultados de las votaciones del 20 de mayo El Impulso 23 May 2018 Lederman Josh 21 May 2018 Trump joins world leaders condemning Maduro s re election in Venezuela Chicago Tribune Retrieved 22 May 2018 Francia sobre proceso ilegitimo No pueden ser considerado como representativo La Patilla in European Spanish 22 May 2018 Retrieved 23 May 2018 Minister Blok geen eerlijke verkiezingen Venezuela Algemeen Dagblad in Dutch 22 May 2018 Retrieved 24 May 2018 New Zealand expresses concern regarding Venezuelan elections The Beehive Retrieved 30 May 2018 The Latest After defeat Venezuela opposition vows to unite The Wichita Eagle Associated Press 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 22 May 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 7 Reasons for Describing Venezuela as a Mafia State InSight Crime 16 May 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 Georgia does not recognise legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela Agenda ge 10 January 2019 Retrieved 10 January 2019 V Venesuele vnov pobedila demokratiya Lukashenko pozdravil Maduro s izbraniem na post prezidenta Archived from the original on 12 June 2018 Retrieved 22 May 2018 President Brahim Gali sends a message of congratulation to Nicolas Maduro for his re election as president of Venezuela 22 May 2018 a b Oppenheimer Andres 6 June 2018 OAS resolution against Venezuela is important but not for the reason you think The Miami Herald Retrieved 7 June 2018 Many small Caribbean countries still depend on Venezuelan oil subsidies and will not a support any sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro s regime Only Bolivia St Vincent and Grenadines and Dominica voted in support of his regime Oppenheimer Andres 27 January 2019 UN Security Council s African members support Venezuela s Maduro Africa Times Retrieved 27 January 2019 Also serving on the Security Council is South Africa which was quick to note that President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his congratulations to Maduro earlier this month on the basis of Venezuela s self determination in conducting its own elections A founding principle of South Africa s constitutional democracy that we hold very dear is the respect for the rule of law said Ambassador Jerry Matjila the South African representative to the council We are therefore deeply concerned by what is a clear attempt in Venezuela to circumvent the country s constitutional legal mechanisms which govern its elections Remarks by MOFA Spokesperson on the recent presidential election in Venezuela Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs 29 May 2018 Archived from the original on 14 February 2019 President Al Mashat Congratulates President of Venezuela on Winning the Elections last almasirah net 23 May 2018 Archived from the original on 16 July 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venezuelan presidential election 2018 Official results Consejo Nacional Electoral CNE Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2018 Venezuelan presidential election amp oldid 1219881908, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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