Opposition’s candidates for presidential elections signed a common principles agreement

The candidates of the opposition primary to elect the rival of President Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 Venezuelan elections signed on Friday the “principles” of a symbolic common government program, in an act held at the initiative of the candidates themselves as a “sign of unity.”

The thirteen leaders registered for the internal vote of the opposition, scheduled for October 22, committed in a document to respect the “alternation” of power and to eliminate the presidential re-election, attend to the “humanitarian emergency” as well as to release the “political prisoners”, among other matters.

“Today’s act wants to underline that, in the midst of natural disagreements, there is a shared path that leads to a unitary candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections,” said the president of the commission that organizes the primary, Jesús María Casal.

Nine of the pre-candidates, including María Corina Machado, a former deputy who is leading the polls, and the two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, attended the event to sign the document in person. Four others endorsed it via video.

They accepted and signed the “Common Principles of the Government’s Minimum Program for Change, Unity and National Reconstruction”

The presidential elections, in which Maduro will seek a new six-year term, are scheduled for 2024, although they do not have a set date.

“A fundamental message: the result of 2024 will take place in 2023. That is what October 22 represents,” Machado told the press. “There is more cohesion than ever, more determination to move forward,” he stressed.

Capriles also applauded the agreement between the pre-candidates: “It seems to me a good sign of unity. We have stated that no one can do it alone, that here we must build a movement that brings everyone together (…), without prejudice. It is the only way that we can be successful in 2024.”

The opposition primaries face serious threats, with the disqualification of leaders such as Machado and Capriles and a challenge before the Venezuelan courts, which seeks to block or suspend that vote.

The process also has logistical and financial challenges, after the organizers dispensed with the technical support of the electoral authorities (CNE).

The document signed this Friday, August 4, raises among its main guidelines the need to deploy a national plan to face the humanitarian crisis, focused on food, health and education; as well as the resumption of the role of this country as a “secure energy provider” after the collapse of its oil industry.

On the other hand, he emphasizes, in political matters, “commitment to alternability and the principle of non-reelection of the president.”

Taken and with information from DobleLlave

(Reference image source: X, @contrapuntovla)

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