Venezuela has announced that it will hold presidential elections on July 28, several months earlier than initially anticipated.
The announcement, made by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Tuesday, ignited speculation about the political landscape in the South American nation.
CNE head Elvis Amoroso said council members had unanimously chosen 28 July from nearly 30 other possible dates.
“We are going to have presidential elections and I am sure that the people will once again win a great victory,” he said
President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power for 11 years, is widely expected to seek re-election.
His opponent, María Corina Machado, is banned from holding office for alleged financial misconduct, which she denied.
The 2018 elections, when Maduro was declared a winner, had been widely dismissed as neither free nor fair.
Candidates have until 25 March to register.
The early election date may leave little time for the Venezuelan opposition to choose a potential replacement for Machado who despite the ban, has continued to campaign and is determined to run.
In 2023, the government and opposition signed an agreement which laid some of the groundwork for the 2024 elections to be recognised by both sides.
Following the deal, the US eased its sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. The restrictions had been imposed after what Washington said were “illegitimate” elections in 2018.
In January, the US threatened to reinstate the sanctions, after Venezuela’s top court upheld a ban on opposition candidate Ms Machado.
Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Washington has a vested interest in supporting steps which ease the crisis in Venezuela as the dire state of the country’s economy has driven more than seven million Venezuelans to emigrate, with many heading to the US.
Chioma Kalu
Follow us on:
