Venezuela is going to hold the parliamentary elections in December. Before the elections, President Nicolas Maduro invited the EU and the UN to send observers for the elections.
Nevertheless, both the EU and Un rejected this proposal and expressed their attitude to the elections which they consider invalid.
In the near future, Maduro ordered the release of about 100 political prisoners. However, supporters of the US-backed Juan Guaido boycotted the election.
Eurasia Diary took an exclusive interview by Venesuelian political analyst Jose Chalhoub about the elections and the situation in the country.
- If Maduro will fraud the elections, so why he invites the UN and EU observers?
- As sanctions from the U.S against Venezuelan oil have taken an important hit on the government and with pressure after pressure from a significant part of the international community Maduro needs to show legitimacy. This is why after pardoning around 100 political prisoners of the opposition last weekend he wants to appear like democratic and believer in elections to downplay the strategy of radicals led by Guaido and his allies. So, this is why he invited the EU and the UN which have had traditionally softer stances against Maduro than the US or Colombia for example. He wishes to legitimize his elections in front of the UN and the EU at least since the Organization of American States is not invited while the US already sees this as a rigged election.
- What is the attitude of people to the elections? Are they willing to go?
- Currently, there's widespread exhaustion from the people with the political standoff and the continuing clashes between the government and the erratic opposition with a Guaido somewhat discredited. Meanwhile, Maduro also is widely seen as corrupt and his power only rested on the armed forces so with an electoral council also rigged and with parliamentary elections not having the same attraction and voting turnout like voting for president. With the people disenchanted with all the political situations surely, there will be an important level of abstention which is convenient for the government in order to regain control of the Parliament.
- How is the approval ranking of the ruling party and opposition?
- Every political party in Venezuela is now discredited including the largest official ruling party the PSUV accused of corruption nepotism although today is the largest in the country but no longer is viewed as a transparent political party the only representative of a few in the political elite in power. While the parties in the opposition also are highly discredited with the oldest traditional parties not reaching 10% of affiliates while the government has been in a process to displace the main heads of the main opposition parties that have been disturbing and virulent for Maduro and his allies. So in general political parties like other institutions like the armed forces are very undermined in terms of their credibility and transparency in front of the public opinion.
- Is there any organized opposition in Venezuela?
- No there's not a solid and organized opposition today in Venezuela with radicals and moderates at deep contradictions with each other, a group firmly backed by Washington in the figure of Juan Guaido, a small group of traditional parties now being attacked by the government and being coopted which in general have been and continue to care for their each other groups interest and unable to promote any significant political change ever since the Bolivarian revolution came to power.
Interviewed by Ulvi Ahmedli