The Venezuelan Supreme Court may veto the candidacy of María Corina Machado, the leading opposition candidate expected to win the presidential primaries.
Luis Ratti, a politician with ties to chavismo, has filed an appeal against the opposition primaries, claiming that Machado has called for violence and chaos in the country.
Ratti, who presents himself as an independent candidate, has a history of supporting chavismo and has been accused of trying to split the opposition vote in previous elections.
Ratti accuses Machado of requesting sanctions and blockades against Venezuela, including invoking the TIAR defense mechanism.
He also plans to investigate the origin of Machado’s campaign funds.
Despite the attacks, Machado has gained significant support, even from sectors that previously identified with chavismo.
Polls indicate that Machado is leading the voting intentions with a substantial percentage, far ahead of other candidates.
However, her candidacy still faces a significant challenge from the National Electoral Council (CNE), which the Chavistas control.
The opposition expects multiple leaders to register their candidacies for the primaries, with the goal of selecting a unity candidate to challenge Chavism in the 2024 presidential elections.
The possibility of the Supreme Court revoking Machado’s electoral registration raises concerns about the fairness of the electoral process in Venezuela.
This situation is reminiscent of Nicaragua’s electoral system, controlled by the Sandinistas, and Brazil’s ongoing trial regarding Jair Bolsonaro’s eligibility, where Lula da Silva appointed the majority of judges.
With information from BSM