Critics of Mr. Maduro blame the catastrophic economic situation on the stark authoritarian turn since he came to power. Mr. Maduro is a former bus driver and as a trade union activist represented bus drivers of the Caracas (Venezuelan capital) Metro System. Since his ascent to power, Mr. Maduro’s regime has moved away from a popular regime that was dependent upon grassroots mobilisation and participatory democracy to an authoritarian system. Ms. Machado has now backed former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the primary challenger to Mr. Maduro in the July 28 elections. Opinion polls are notoriously unreliable in Venezuela, but many suggest that Mr. Maduro is trailing.

Source: The Hindu July 28, 2024 09:06 UTC