Venezuelans have begun heading to the polls in an election boycotted by the opposition but expected to hand deeply unpopular President Nicolas Maduro a new mandate.
Permanent Secretary in Antigua’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Anthony Liverpool is among a 6-member Caribbean team to observe tomorrow’s presidential election in Venezuela.
The election observer team is being headed by Ambassador Ellsworth John of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Maduro, the political heir to the late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, has presided over an implosion of once wealthy oil producer Venezuela’s economy since taking office in 2013.
Hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, rising crime and broken water, power and transportation networks have sparked growing discontent and violent unrest among Venezuelans.
However, the 55-year-old former bus driver is favourite to win ahead of his main rival Henri Falcon, a former army officer and state governor who has failed to gain the endorsement of the main opposition leaders, and an evangelical candidate, Javier Bertucci.
Maduro, with a tight grip on the electoral and military authorities, faces a bitterly divided opposition that has called for a boycott.
“Low enthusiasm will likely reduce voter turnout and enable Maduro to control the outcome without major social backlash,” said analyst Risa Grais-Targow of Eurasia Group.
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Which international group has sought to make the “observation”? I can’t imagine it being the OAS knowing how corrupt that country is. But knowing how corruption is also rife in the Caribbean it may be a case of a set of corrupt nations observing how corrupt an ally is to then conclude and advise how their leaders can also become more corrupt in the electoral process.
I await to hear the report of the “obsevers”.
Cartoon governments suuppprt cartoon regimes. Who the France in this world would think what these Caribbean goverments are doing credible!
I guess the USA decides which elections are legitimate. Especially those hacked by Russians.
Well as the saying goes. With a little help from my friends.
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