Venezuela’s highest court, dominated by President Nicolás Maduro’s loyalists, has delivered a major blow to the political opposition by suspending the results of their recent primaries. This action came in the wake of María Corina Machado’s overwhelming victory in these primaries, positioning her as the opposition’s candidate to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in the expected 2024 presidential election.
The court’s move serves to underscore the government’s determination to cast doubt on Machado’s eligibility. Furthermore, it reinforces bans on running for office that had been imposed on Machado and two other prominent opposition figures.
Monday’s ruling constitutes the latest effort to raise questions about Machado’s legitimacy and is likely to trigger a response from the United States. Recently, the U.S. lifted sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for the government’s commitment to holding equitable elections under the supervision of European observers.
A spokesperson from the State Department stated, “We urge Nicolas Maduro and his representatives to uphold the commitments they made at the signing of the political roadmap agreement. The US government will take action if Maduro and his representatives do not meet their commitments.”
The court’s decision followed an announcement by Venezuela’s attorney general last week that the opposition’s primaries, conducted independently without government involvement, were under investigation for financial crimes and conspiracy.
Machado secured over 90% of the vote, accompanied by a higher-than-anticipated voter turnout, sparking predictions that she would likely triumph over Maduro in a fair contest.
By branding Machado’s selection as fraudulent, the Chavista government can further erode her eligibility for candidacy while arguing that the matter of her disqualification is inconsequential, explained Phil Gunson, senior analyst for the Andes region at the Crisis Group. “There’s really no law or legal basis for this at all,” Gunson added.
Opposition leaders have rejected the allegations against the primary process and have pledged to stand by their choice of Machado as the opposition candidate.
Delsa Solorzano, a member of Venezuela’s national assembly, reaffirmed her support for the primaries, stating, “I reiterate my support for [the primaries] and the technical teams that accompanied it. Venezuela expressed itself, and nothing can change the will of a nation that wants change.”
Venezuela’s challenges have been compounded by corruption and economic mismanagement, aggravated by oil sanctions, leading to over 7 million people fleeing the country in the past decade, in the face of widespread food shortages, hyperinflation, and recurrent power outages.
Despite the nation’s collapse, Maduro has maintained control through election manipulation, military incentives, and human rights abuses against political opponents.
The supreme court’s ruling has the potential to further divide the opposition, as some factions may opt to participate in the 2024 electoral contest, while others may consider boycotting it. It also serves as a tactic to dishearten voters, making them feel that the competition is futile and that voting is a wasted effort.
The supreme court has demanded that the opposition surrender all documentation related to the elections, including candidate registration and voter records, within three days. This will allow an electoral commission to investigate the allegations.
The opposition has voiced concerns that these documents could be misused to target opposition figures and jeopardize next year’s elections.
Geoff Ramsey, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, described this as a clear violation of the agreement signed between the government and the opposition in Barbados, marking an escalation of the political crisis. “Maduro’s acting like he doesn’t care about the prospect that the US could snap back the sanctions,” Ramsey noted.
