Right-wing former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado declared herself the winner of the opposition presidential primaries in Venezuela. She had 93 percent of the vote, with roughly 26 percent of ballots counted. Ms. Machado is, however, currently barred from holding office.
Official results are still pending, as an unexpected overnight internet server blockage halted the count. But her lead was so overwhelming that she claimed victory. Officials say the count is expected to be resumed soon.
The vote also took place a few days after a historical agreement between President Nicolás Maduro’s administration and the Unitary Platform of Venezuela, the opposition bloc. The deal led the U.S. to partially lift sanctions on Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold sectors, commodities that have a massive weight in the country’s economy.
“Today, very powerful forces have been unleashed,” Ms. Machado told supporters gathered outside her campaign headquarters in the capital, Caracas.
But Maria Corina Machado’s participation in next year’s vote remains uncertain, as she was barred from serving any public office post for 15 years, according to a highly-questioned decision issued in June by Venezuela’s Comptroller’s General Office.
The office started a legal process against Ms. Machado, accusing her of inconsistencies in the declaration of her assets during the time she served as a lawmaker, between 2011 and 2014. She denies any wrongdoing and accused the government of “political persecution.”
The office that banned Ms. Machado, as well as other opposition figures, was led at the time by government-backed Elvis Amoroso, who in August was appointed as the new director of the CNE, Venezuela’s electoral agency.
The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, Francisco Palmieiri, issued a statement saying “Venezuelans gathered to express their opinion with a view to truly free, fair, and competitive presidential elections” in 2024.
The U.S. Treasury says “it is prepared to amend or revoke authorizations at any time, should representatives of [Mr.] Maduro fail to follow through on their commitments,” which includes ceasing bans against opposition figures.
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