What Do Venezuelans Think About the Presidential Elections?

It has been almost three months since Venezuelans went to the polls on July 28, and debate is still ongoing at home and abroad about the winner of the presidential election. This is not unexpected.

The United States had not recognized the legitimacy of two previous presidential elections in Venezuela and had declared long before that election that if Washington’s chosen candidate lost, it could only be due to fraud.

Official Venezuelan electoral authority (CNE) declared Incumbent President Nicolás Maduro won with 52% of the vote. The closest candidate, US-backed Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, received 43 percent of the votes.

This conclusion was later reviewed and confirmed by the Supreme Court of Venezuela (TSJ). Gonzalez claimed he had evidence to prove he won, but rejected even when called to show them to TSJ.

Washington objects to vote

US President Joe Biden quickly in the name For new elections in Venezuela. Biden’s administrators are at the same pace walked back. The current US stance is that the elections were definitely fraudulent, but they to wait Caracas released data on individual polling places before announcing that Washington had appointed the real president.

Venezuela’s election authority has not released detailed vote count data. The Supreme Court’s supervision is deemed sufficient by the government. Like Mission Verdad Various Spanish-language social media posts noted that it is common practice in Latin America for courts to resolve election disputes:

Peru 2021 – Keiko Fujimori filed fraud allegations against Pedro Castillo. The national electoral court confirmed Castillo a month and a half later.

Brazil 2022 – Jair Bolsonaro challenged Lula da Silva’s victory before the supreme electoral court. The court confirmed Lula 43 days later.

Paraguay 2023 – The two candidates did not recognize Santiago Peña’s victory. The electoral court certified the results a month later, endorsing Peña.

Guatemala 2024 – Bernardo Arévalo received the certificate 5 months after winning the elections, when the challenges in the first and second rounds were decided by the supreme electoral court.

Mexico 2024 – Xólchit Gálvez challenged Claudia Sheinbaum to victory. The electoral court confirmed the winner two months later.

In fact, in the USA, when Donald Trump alleged fraud against Joe Biden in many states in 2020, the courts rejected the complaints and Biden received certification 41 days later.

Moreover, no matter how well the election is documented, it is almost certain that the United States will not recognize Maduro’s government as legitimate. As a UK blogger observations“CIA reacts with disappointment after world’s largest oil reserves end up with wrong leader again.”

Meanwhile, the overly enthusiastic Western press claims that, despite such a statement by Washington, the United States already recognizes Gonzalez as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

So what do the people of Venezuela think?

Answering this question was Oscar Schemel, president of Venezuela’s respected polling company Hinterlaces. Schemel spoke at a meeting webinar sponsored by 24 October Venezuela Solidarity Network and organized by Global Justice Alliance.

Schemel is arguably among the most qualified people on public opinion in Venezuela. His firm hinterlacesIt takes the pulse of the nation every two weeks. The polls have been accurate, and most elections in Venezuela are predicted to be within a few points. other surveys They have been distorted and politically biased.

Schemel itself is independent and known for its impartiality. He did not hesitate to criticize the Venezuelan government. On the other hand, it strongly opposes unilateral coercive economic measures of the United States. sanctions – in his own country.

The number one issue on Venezuelans’ minds is not who won the election race, but the state of the economy and, more importantly, their personal income, Schemel reported. hinterlaces reports 72 percent of Venezuelans want to “close the election phase and continue working.”

Venezuelans have conflicting views on who won the election. According to Hinterlaces questionnaire In the vote taken on August 9, a significant majority of 59% believed that Maduro won. Schemel explained that a very divided opposition does not have the capacity to mobilize voters.

Both pro-government Chavistas and disgruntled segments of society at large are fed up with polarization and long for national peace.

Polls consistently show staunch support for the governing Socialist Party (PSUV) at 35 percent. But even party believers are looking for a more effective and productive socialism.

A significant 14% falls into the determined opposition camp. However, Washington called Gonzalez “united oppositionAccording to Schemel, there is not a single opposition politician on the ground who appears to have a dedicated following.

Washington’s appointed opposition leader, Edmundo Gonzalez, was completely unknown before he was personally selected for the presidency by someone else. anointed by the USA opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. He was therefore unfit for public office. past crimes.

No matter what, Gonzalez voluntarily Taking the wind of the opposition, he set out from Venezuela for Spain on September 8. His departure on a Spanish military plane was negotiated with the Venezuelan government.

US intervention in Venezuela

Gonzalez and Machado welcomed the sanctions imposed by the United States on their countries and even tougher measures To remove Maduro from office. In contrast, Hinterlaces reports 63 percent of Venezuelans believe leaders calling for sanctions should be prosecuted.

Gonzalez ran on a platform of privatizing almost everything, which goes against most popular views. hinterlaces reportsFor example, 61 percent of Venezuelans reject the idea of ​​privatizing the state oil company PDVSA.

Schemel condemned nearly a thousand US sanctions. This blockade devastated PDVSA, the main source of funding for public services. Schemel states that under the influence of the USA’s unilateral coercive economic measures, the state’s role as the guarantor of social welfare has been eroded.

Washington’s “multidimensional war,” in Schemel’s words, led to a decline in the quality of life. This “unfair and unequal” attack created concern and anger in the public.

According to Schemel’s report, the majority still support a mix of socialist and private economic measures. chavistaopinion. Nearly 70 percent do not believe that the opposition can solve the country’s economic problems.

This majority wants to see chavista According to Schemel’s data, the model works more efficiently. They do not want regime change, they long for reconciliation and unity.

About six weeks from now, Venezuela will inaugurate its next president on January 10. Gonzalez, incredibly, allegationsHe said he would return to Caracas to receive the presidential sash.

So what will Washington do? US Vice President Kamala Harris says “We will not use the US military” against Venezuela unless Maduro voluntarily leaves office. Such a statement from the vice president of the world’s hegemon would be welcomed. But it says a lot that he even thinks that the violent overthrow of a sovereign state is clearly something worth ignoring.