There have been multiple accounts created with the sole purpose of posting advertisement posts or replies containing unsolicited advertising.

Accounts which solely post advertisements, or persistently post them may be terminated.

Venezuela votes in election that could end 25 years of socialist rule

Venezuelans go to the polls on Sunday against a backdrop of hope and fear in a presidential election that could end 25 years of socialist rule – if a free and fair vote is allowed.

Opinion polls suggest that the president Nicolás Maduro, 61, who is seeking his third term, could be defeated by the opposition coalition candidate, retired diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia, 74.

But experts warn that it is one thing for González to gain more votes, and another is for him to be announced as winner by the National Electoral Council, which is aligned with Maduro’s government.

Independent observers describe this election as the most arbitrary in recent years, even by the standards of an authoritarian regime that started with Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

Nougat ,

But experts warn that it is one thing for González to gain more votes, and another is for him to be announced as winner by the National Electoral Council, which is aligned with Maduro’s government.

Anyone with a brain knows this, but it demands stating out loud:

This is what Trump wanted from Pence on Jan 6. This is what the insurrectionists on the ground were trying to do on Jan 6. They were trying to invalidate a free and fair election.

worldwidewave ,

Trump seems to be on a speedrun of saying all the wrong things this election cycle. I wonder if he’d openly endorse Maduro refusing to leave power

Moonrise2473 ,

https://feddit.it/pictrs/image/f28a479e-a9f7-4127-afd7-cbbdc9e9c2e8.jpeg

I’m sure that with a ballot designed to have all this photos of Maduro, it will be a fair election.

Ironic that voting for a party called “alliance for change” actually votes for Maduro. Change what?

Hubi ,
@Hubi@feddit.org avatar

They should’ve used a different picture of him for each one for maximum comedic effect.

sugartits ,

Are we honestly expecting this election to be free and fair?

apfelwoiSchoppen , (edited )
@apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world avatar

Just as free and fair as the US where ultra wealthy and corporate donors pick noms and we just have to take the shit served to us.

AmidFuror ,

More of this false equivalency shit. There can be different degrees of corruption and authoritarianism. See Russia and China.

apfelwoiSchoppen ,
@apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world avatar

Also: see the US.

DancingBear ,

No. Western media and US government has done everything they can to overthrow Maduro numerous times

fair.org/…/as-venezuela-mends-ties-with-latin-nei…

No_Ones_Slick_Like_Gaston ,

There are huge reports of delays in polling stations where their past outcomes are not favorable to Maduro.

Additionally there’s a lingering mood of doubt over the unregulated assistance to vote where this hasn’t been requested, huge red flag to fairness and secrecy of votes.

Brickardo ,

Name a better pair than Venezuela appearing in the news roll and an election period looming near in a liberal state.

Zorque ,

So is it socialist or authoritarian? They seem to be contradicting themselves.

Gsus4 , (edited )
@Gsus4@mander.xyz avatar

I can’t tell if you are serious (because I agree that there can be no true socialism without democratic legitimacy) or being a tankie by saying that e.g. stalinism, which most people including tankies consider socialist, was not authoritarian.

timewarp ,
@timewarp@lemmy.world avatar

So Britains are finally tired of the monarchy?

Gsus4 ,
@Gsus4@mander.xyz avatar

I don’t think Maduro is going to go if he loses, he said it himself.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • random
  • lifeLocal
  • goranko
  • All magazines
    •