On 28 July, Venezuela held presidential elections. According to the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE), a Maduro-allied body, incumbent Nicolas Maduro was re-elected with 51 per cent of votes, with the Unitary Platform’s candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, obtaining 44 per cent of votes. Voter turnout was 59 per cent. The CNE did not substantiate the results and did not make electoral records public. All ten candidates running in the election were men. Maria Corina Machado, who had received overwhelming support during last year’s primary elections, had been banned from running for the opposition’s Unitary Platform. The opposition claimed fraud and stated their electoral records showed the Unitary Platform candidate had won the election. Electoral observers, leaders within the region and other analysts have cast doubt on the results, as these have not been made public.

Sources: Transparencia Electoral, Deutche Welle, InfoBae (1), International IDEA, Infobae (2)

The 28 July presidential election was marred with irregularities, and opposition leaders have claimed there was fraud. Numerous hurdles to the participation of opposition candidates included a ban against the winner of the opposition primaries, Maria Corina Machado, as well as Corina Yoris. Members of the Venezuelan diaspora further faced obstacles to register to vote from abroad, as officials demanded requirements not established in law. The National Electoral Council (CNE), a Maduro-friendly body, claimed the incumbent had been re-elected, despite showing no electoral records to substantiate the results. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the results, decrying fraud. According to the top Prosecutor’s office, at least 1,000 people were detained in the context of protests, for allegedly turning to violence.

Sources: France 24, Infobae, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Deutsche Welle

Members of the Venezuelan diaspora have encountered significant issues when trying to register for the first time or change their information to cast their vote for the 28 July election. The National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral-CNE) announced that citizens would be able to register from abroad between 18 March to 16 April, yet many have faced numerous hurdles. These issues have been particularly evident in Argentina, a country with a large Venezuelan diaspora. There, the electoral registration began two weeks after the set time and was only announced through informal channels. Similar accounts of delays and irregularities have been seen throughout Latin America. Other prerequisites to vote, not foreseen in Venezuela's electoral framework, have also been added by Maduro's government, making registration from abroad more costly and timely. Thus, even though Venezuelan citizens might be registered, some cannot afford to go through the process of voting from abroad. 

Sources: Caracas Chronicles, Radio France Internationale, The Associated Press 

A bill known as the ‘Law against Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions’ received preliminary approval from the legislature on 2 April. The bill establishes a broad and ambiguous definition of fascism, in contravention of human rights standards. Critics have expressed their concern over this bill, as it would increase criminalization of President Nicolas Maduro's political opponents and dissent. Its provisions include potential restrictions to free speech and freedom of assembly and association as a consequence of prohibitions on organizations and demonstrations that ‘glorify fascism’. Incitement to or ‘carrying out violent actions as a means or way to exercise political rights’ may carry a sentence of eight to twelve years imprisonment and ineligibility to hold public office. 

Sources: El País, Amnesty International 

Venezuela’s opposition is facing fragmentation as Corina Yoris, Maria Corina Machado’s preferred choice to run in her place in the upcoming elections, was unable to register as presidential candidate in the National Electoral Council’s portal. Machado, who had won the opposition’s October primaries by a landslide, had rallied opposition parties behind Yoris before her candidacy was rejected in a measure deemed as arbitrary by national and international experts. The governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, who has been a part of the Unitary Platform, the opposition’s alliance, was able to register his candidacy, but not without criticism within the opposition, due to the lack of internal agreement. Social Democrat leader Enrique Marquez, and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the Platform’s preferred choice to serve as temporary candidate, were also able to register while negotiations with the government continue. 

Sources: El Pais, Infobae, Voz de America 

The Maduro Government has ordered the closure of Venezuela’s office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), expelling its international staff. The government also argues that they had engaged in “colonial and abusive” behavior and had violated the UN Charter. Authorities further announced that they would reassess their cooperation with the OHCHR within 30 days. In the days prior to the decision, the OHCHR Venezuela office had expressed its concern over the detention of prominent activist Rocio San Miguel, whose whereabouts were unknown for several days. Local NGOs and other human rights defenders have condemned the decision to end cooperation with the UN human rights office. 

Sources: La Vanguardia, The New York Times