Presidential elections in Venezuela: The Catholic Church called to vote

Today presidential elections are being held in Venezuela. Within the framework of the day, the Catholic Church—in the voice of the bishops—has repeatedly called on Venezuelans to exercise their right to vote, to make a change that allows us to overcome the serious crisis that affects the country in almost all areas.

Two candidates vying for victoryin the midst of a political climate that is becoming increasingly tense: Nicolás Maduro, successor of Hugo Chávez and current head of the Chavista regime, is running for re-election for the third consecutive time, this time with little international support and highly questioned due to the accusations of corruption, drug trafficking and terrorism that weigh against him.

On the other hand, Edmundo González Urrutia, a 74-year-old diplomat, won the presidential candidacy with María Corina Machado, the undisputed leader of the unitary platform of opposition political parties, after a crushing defeat in the October primary elections. 2023.

The opposition campaign took place in the midst of abuses and persecutions by Chavismo, which according to the most respected national and international surveyswould have a very low percentage of support to remain in power.

“What has happened so far is disloyal and lacking in all political ethics,” expressed the Venezuelan Episcopate about the situation, and called on the regime to “cease the persecution and harassment” against citizens who provide material and logistical support to opposition candidates.

Beginning of the electoral process

The presidential elections began without setbacks in various places around the world, such as Canberra (Australia) and Madrid (Spain), where hundreds of Venezuelans have been able to exercise their right to vote.

However, according to the Spanish newspaper El Paísonly 1% of Venezuelans abroad with the right to vote (approximately 5 million) will be able to do so, due to the “numerous obstacles” imposed by the Chavista bureaucracy.

Notably There are serious complaints against the Venezuelan electoral system. In 2017, the company Smartmatic, in charge of providing the software and machines used in the elections, accused the regime of manipulating participation figures —highlights BBC— and questioned the result of that year’s elections, in which the opposition decided not to participate.

In Venezuela, There were lines of people at the polling stations since the night of July 27. According to Eugenio Martíneza Venezuelan journalist specialized in electoral issues, by 7 in the morning (Venezuela time) 77.9% of the voting stations were already installed and around 60% were active.

Atypical and unequal elections

Through a video published on the official X account (formerly Twitter) of the Archdiocese of Caracas, this July 26, Cardinal Baltazar Porras described the electoral process as “atypical,” “because there is no equality among the participants.”

“But there is a great will among the Venezuelan people to want not only to vote, but to participate, and participating means choosing and respecting the popular will,” he expressed.

“We as believers also have the obligation of prayer, so that we have a peaceful heart, that violence does not rule over our society, because we do not want to eliminate each other, but that in the midst of differences we can find paths of good and material and spiritual progress for all,” added Cardinal Porras.

These statements contrast with those of Nicolás Maduro and various senior leaders of the Chavista regime, who in recent days have threatened to plunge Venezuela into a “bloodbath” and a “fratricidal civil war” in the event of losing the elections, as how to collect Cnn in Spanish.

The cardinal, recently replaced by Pope Francis as Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas, once again invited all believers to pray for Venezuela – personally and as a family – to receive strength from God and to be “protagonists of what we wish for our country”.

“May the Lord bless Venezuela in these days that are crucial for the well-being of all,” he concluded.

An opportunity to overcome the crisis and political bias

Through various pronouncements, especially the Pastoral Exhortation of last July 11: Walk together with hopethe Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) expressed that the country is in “a serious crisis situation that is hitting the people” and that the organizations that should be at the service of citizens are only “politically biased.”

The Episcopate denounced the very serious situation in which basic services, education, the economy, freedom and justice are found in Venezuela. Given this reality, they pointed out that the Venezuelan people are presented with “a new opportunity” to decide the country’s path through democracy.

“The vote thus assumes a vital importance in the current reality we live in: only by overcoming abstentionism and political apathy, will we be able to advance in the reconstruction of the country,” expressed the bishops.

In that sense, they indicated that the July 28 elections must be a “democratic celebration” that does not exclude anyone, especially Venezuelans outside the country, who will vote “with the hope of being reunited with their loved ones in a homeland.” that opens the doors to development and happiness.”

Finally, the bishops also addressed the Armed Forces, reminding them of their duty to ensure democratic institutions and to ensure respect for the popular will.

“The Venezuelan people are full of hope, they know that the future is in their hands and they have the tools to achieve it,” they concluded.