On October 15th 2017, more than eighteen-million Venezuelans have the right to vote for twenty-three regional governors. This Sunday’s election was supposed to take place on the tenth of December, but was instead changed to the fifteenth of October by the Constituent Assembly, who had gained diplomatic powers in August. President Nicolás Maduro Moros demanded that the governors that are to be elected must acknowledge and swear by the same Constituent Assembly.
“A governor who is not sworn in by the Constituent Assembly will not take office.” – President Nicolás Maduro Moros
Eleven governors will be looking towards re-election, seven of which are former military officers.
However, the president seems to be creating enough political power to rearrange and demolish any branch of government that seems subversive, even if it means revising the country’s constitution.
David Smilde believes that the election could be a huge threat to Venezuela’s democracy; this election could either be a step towards liberty and freedom for Venezuelans, or the opposite.
The representatives are formidable members of the president’s movement, but the push to power proposes Venezuelans a decision that affects their entire future.
The past two years’ protests have resulted in over a hundred deaths, and still were unsuccessful in evicting President Moros. People are trying to find hope in this election for twenty-three governors.
“If the opposition wins a majority, it would be the first gubernatorial election since 2000 in which candidates backed by the ruling party coalition do not dominate.” says Christine Armario, from AP News.
In the past 2-3 years, there has been a series of protests against the lack of basic goods, and inflation (which, in short, is a sudden heightened price on items). In early 2016, some may remember the rise in protests surrounding the Venezuelan Parliamentary Election, and the recall referendum on President Nicolás Maduro Moros.
The Maduro Administration had blamed the inflation on capitalism and the U.S, although they were the ones in control. The authorities had started using fear and brutality to stop the citizens from protesting. They had gone passed the use of tear gas and rubber pellets towards torture of the imprisoned protesters and even went as far as death.
In summary, the CNE (The National Electoral Council) has installed around 13,599 polling stations across Venezuela. If you are a citizen of Venezuela, please use your vote wisely!
Photo: C. Garcia Rawlins / Reuters
