Hugo Chavez, the Founding Father of the Americas: The Venezuelan Revolution During the 2017 General Reionization Rejuvenation

Authorities set Sunday’s election to coincide with what would have been the 70th birthday of former President Hugo Chávez, the revered leftist firebrand who died of cancer in 2013, leaving his Bolivarian revolution in the hands of Maduro. Many voters blame the policies of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela for crushing wages, spurring hunger, and breaking up families due to migration, and it’s more unpopular than ever.

Edmundo Gonzalez, a retired diplomat who had been tapped by the opposition to fill in for Maria Corina Machado, was the most challenging opponent Nicols would have faced if he were to seek a third term.

In a statement, Machado said “Edmundo Gónzalez won this election. We know this. In every state, we know it. We know what happened today,” citing irregularities that bring the results into question.

Venezuela’s election is a fulcrum moment for the Americas. Despite high turnout, there were numerous reports of voting irregularities, voter intimidation and problems at voting centers. The electoral council declared Mr. Chavez the winner with 50.4 percent of the vote, which was nearly a full percentage point ahead of Mr. Maduro. Because officials at many voting centers refused to hand over paper copies of the vote tallies, the opposition had no immediate way to concretely point to a different outcome.

Venezuela sits atop the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and once boasted Latin America’s most advanced economy. But it entered into a free fall after Maduro took the helm. First, social unrest and then mass emigration were the consequences of hyperinflation that soared past 130,000%, and Plummeting oil prices.

Economic sanctions from the U.S. seeking to force Maduro from power after his 2018 reelection — which the U.S. and dozens of other countries condemned as illegitimate — only deepened the crisis.

Maduro’s pitch to voters this election is one of economic security, which he tried to sell with stories of entrepreneurship and references to a stable currency exchange and lower inflation rates. The International Monetary Fund forecasts the economy will grow 4% this year — one of the fastest in Latin America — after having shrunk 71% from 2012 to 2020.

Most Venezuelans haven’t seen a change in their quality of life. Many people can’t afford essential items because they earn under $200 a month. Some work second and third jobs. A basket of basic staple items will set a family of four back $385.

With the exodus of many Venezuelans, migration was at the forefront during the campaign. Maduro blamed politicians like Machado for supporting U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan economic sectors and officials, which he said forced many people to leave the country.

“The ballot boxes express what the streets said during these past few months of campaigning,” Maduro’s son, lawmaker Nicolas Maduro Guerra, said on X as night fell on the capital. “Victory for the Venezuelan people.”

Earlier, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris offered her support. “The United States stands with the people of Venezuela who expressed their voice in today’s historic presidential election.,” Harris wrote on X. “The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected.”

Machado was careful not to claim victory before authorities announce results but said she had already received copies of some official voting tallies and they indicated a record turnout — exactly what the opposition needed to overcome Maduro’s well-greased electoral machine.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans waited anxiously for the results of Sunday’s presidential election that could pave the way to an end to 25 years of single party rule, even as some polls remained open more than three hours after a deadline to close.

“I’m so happy, I know the results are not good but I’m happy,” said Fernndez, a bank employee as a representative for the opposition campaign walked out of a voting center to announce the results. Dozens of people stood nearby as they belted out the national anthem.

Gonzlez said that the government will welcome those who have left with open arms, and that it will do everything it can to get them back.

People cried and shouted “Freedom! Freedom!” at the rallies of Gonzlez. as the duo passed by. People handed the devout Catholics rosaries, walked along highways and went through military checkpoints to reach their events. Others video-called their relatives who have migrated to let them catch a glimpse of the candidates.

Maduro’s campaign rallies featured lively electronic merengue dancing as well as speeches attacking his opponents. But after he caught heat from leftist allies such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a comment about a “bloodbath” should he lose, Maduro recoiled. He told El Pais that the ruling party would peacefully hand over the presidency if it loses, which was out of step with the winning campaign’s tone.

Both campaigns distinguished themselves not only for the political movements they represented but also on how they addressed voters’ hopes and fears.

The Venezuelan Presidential Election’ Maduro González. “What have we learnt from our experiences in Venezuela”

Most Venezuelans who migrated over the past 11 years settled in Latin America and the Caribbean. In recent years, many began setting their sights on the U.S.

“Today are lines of joy and hope, and they are the ones I am proudest of,” said Gonzlez. “We will change hatred for love. We will change poverty for progress. We want to change corruption for honesty. We will change goodbyes for reunions.”

After voting at a church-adjacent poll site in an upper-class Caracas neighborhood, González called on the country’s armed forces to respect “the decision of our people.”

In recent years, the economic activity in Venezuela didn’t come to fruition and that’s why Gonzlez and Machado focused much of their campaigning on Venezuela’s hinterland. They promised a government that would create sufficient jobs to attract Venezuelans living abroad to return home and reunite with their families.

The opposition tried to take advantage of the large inequalities that arose during the crisis when people abandoned their currency, the bolivar, for the U.S. dollar.

Source: Venezuelans anxiously await results of an election that could end one-party rule

The AIDS of Maduro: Leave the United States in the Shadow of Political Change and Social Instability, and Enter the Democratic Republic of Venezuela

She said that if González loses, she will ask her relatives living in the U.S. to sponsor her and her son’s application to legally emigrate there. “We can’t take it anymore,” she said.

Liana Ibarra, a manicurist in greater Caracas, lined up at 3 a.m. Sunday for her appointment but found that at least 150 people were ahead of her.

She said there are jobs, security and good pay in Venezuela and cast her vote in the Petare neighborhood.

It is not a universally bad picture. In the United States and Brazil, democracy is succeeding. But it is being tested as the opposition to pluralism and inclusion grows, and social unrest and dissatisfaction with the government spreads against a backdrop of stark inequality and institutional instability.

Even though she was barred from air travel, she still went by car and brought out large crowds in smaller towns to cheer for the candidate.

NPR traveled with Machado to Barquisimeto, a city in northwestern Venezuela, en route to a rally in the country’s second-largest city of Maracaibo just days before the campaign closing. Her team stopped in a neighborhood to fill their cars’ tanks and to rescue a truck that was been vandalized by pro-government supporters the week before. Residents gathered for a chance to meet her after word spread that she was coming. The sisters asked her to sign the flag. The teenagers, who asked not to be named in this story, said they’d received threats because of their support for the opposition.

The slogan is “Volver a Casa,” which means “return home.” On the other side, it’s called “Return Home,” which is a reference to a growing desire in the diaspora. A teenager wore a shirt with a slogan at an opposition rally in the neighborhood of La Vega in Venezuela. “I’ve lived with my brother since I was 14,” she explained, tearing up. Their parents had to leave so they could take care of us.

There is a strong feeling that if change isn’t made soon, people will leave.

Local community organizers went door to door to help people understand the ballot — on which Maduro appeared 13 times, for each party that had endorsed his candidacy. Both Maduro and the opposition held their closing campaign events in Caracas on Thursday. A 12 hour event was held in which stages were set up around the city. Tambor Chang was a percussionist from the city of Barinas, who was performing on the stage with songs from the president’s previous campaigns. All led to Maduro’s appearance at Bolívar Avenue downtown, which filled up with people. Hundreds of buses lined the side streets, as attendees were brought in from all over the country.

Maryelis Bolvar de Flores held up a sign that said she loved her president. The people, the poor and hard working people are the only ones he cares about.

The Venezuelan National Anthem was in the Air for Election Day, but it ended in dispute and uncertainty: Sources: The Journal of Venezuela’s Electoral Council

At both rallies, the crowds joined their candidates in singing the national anthem — a sight that signaled that, on Election Day, people would vote for their country.

National Electoral Council officials worked with local overseers and volunteers to facilitate the voting process. Many were on high alert because of the stakes. A number of news sources and citizen journalists recorded intimidation in voting centers across the country. 15 men in jackets tried to block the voting center at a school in Venezuela, according to The New York Times.

Rosa Cova, 60 years old and recovering from surgery, told NPR after casting her ballot in the Catia neighborhood of Caracas, “This is our last chance to get out of this mess.”

The secretary of state said the votes must be counted fairly and transparent and that the international community will respond accordingly.

What will happen next is uncertain with the results in dispute. If people take to the streets, they are aware of the history of protests being squashed by repressive government forces and arbitrary detentions.

Source: Hope was in the air for Venezuela’s election, but it ended in dispute and uncertainty

Lexi Parra: a documentary photographer from New York City to the Venezuelan early voter’s line in the early hours of Election Day

Lexi Parra is a documentary photographer based out of New York City and Caracas. You can see more of her work on the internet, or on social networking sites.

There was anticipation all around the country for Sunday’s election. People lined up at the voting centers as early as 10 pm the night before. After years of perceived apathy, there was a drive and hope in the air that brought large numbers of Venezuelans out to the polls.