{"id":1037401,"date":"2021-11-20T17:43:31","date_gmt":"2021-11-20T22:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1037401"},"modified":"2021-11-20T17:43:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-20T22:43:36","slug":"caruzo-venezuela-opposition-plays-ball-with-maduro-for-yet-another-sham-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caruzo-venezuela-opposition-plays-ball-with-maduro-for-yet-another-sham-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Caruzo \u2013 Venezuela &#039;Opposition&#039; Plays Ball with Maduro for Yet Another Sham Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcaruzo-venezuela-opposition-plays-ball-with-maduro-for-yet-another-sham-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1037401&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">CARACAS \u2014 Venezuela will hold regional elections on November 21. This time around, \u201cthe people\u201d will \u201celect\u201d 3,082 men and women \u2013 split across the country\u2019s 23 governor seats, 335 mayoral offices, and thousands of state legislators.<\/p>\n<p>Both the socialist dictatorship and the socialist \u201copposition\u201d are enthusiastically encouraging participation. For the average Venezuelan, however \u2013 who has lived through at least 28 rigged elections \u2013 why bother?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Under normal circumstances, democracy should be the way to solve our own affairs and bring much-needed change to the country, but that is impossible in Venezuela after 22 years of \u201cBolivarian Revolution\u201d have left Venezuelans in a state of utter resignation, exhaustion, and stagnation. The Chinese coronavirus pandemic is the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/talcualdigital.com\/mas-de-la-mitad-de-los-venezolanos-estaria-dispuesto-a-votar-segun-delphos\/\">poll<\/a> run in July of 2021, 53 percent of Venezuela\u2019s population says it is willing to participate in these upcoming elections. For comparison, nearly 70 percent of the electorate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/es\/am%C3%A9rica-latina\/20201207-venezuela-en-medio-de-una-abstenci%C3%B3n-de-casi-70-el-chavismo-recupera-el-control-del-parlamento\">abstained<\/a> from voting in 2020\u2019s sham legislative elections according to the Venezuelan electoral authorities\u2019 official data \u2014 or more than 80 percent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/america\/venezuela\/2020\/12\/06\/la-oposicion-venezolana-revelo-que-mas-del-80-del-padron-electoral-se-abstuvo-de-votar-en-las-elecciones-convocadas-por-maduro\/\">according<\/a> to the Venezuelan opposition\u2019s data.<\/p>\n<p>The total lack of will to vote aside, our Constitution stipulates that the government must hold elections. The Socialist Party has decided to respect this provision, for some reason, while ignoring nearly the entire rest of the document \u2013 most blatantly the part where our lawmakers can oust a president that breaks with the \u201cdemocratic order,\u201d like Nicol\u00e1s Maduro has. Failure to hold rigged elections would go against the regime\u2019s desire to project a democratic facade to the world.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<div id=\"attachment_18756794\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"37\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1230091351.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18756794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1230091351.jpg\" alt=\"CARACAS, VENEZUELA - DECEMBER 12: A supporter of President Maduro holds on his back portraits of Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar and Hugo Chavez during the rally in support of the Parliamentary Elections from Plaza Bol\u00edvar during the day that Opposition Leader Juan Guaido calls his supporters to participate in the popular consultation on December 12, 2020 in Caracas, Venezuela. After one week of online voting, people con vote in-person at polling stations. The survey asks Venezuelans if they want President Nicolas Maduro to step down and fresh elections to be hold while seeking greater support from international community. A week ago, the ruling party won congressional elections boycotted by opposition where only 31% of allowed voters casted ballots. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez Viloria\/Getty Images)\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>A supporter of dictator Nicol\u00e1s Maduro holds on his back portraits of Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar and Hugo Chavez during the rally in support of the Parliamentary Elections from Plaza Bol\u00edvar during the day that President Juan Guaid\u00f3 calls his supporters to participate in the popular consultation on December 12, 2020 in Caracas, Venezuela.&nbsp;<\/em>(Leonardo Fernandez Viloria\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Maduro hosting fake elections is not new, but the socialist \u201copposition\u2019s\u201d enthusiastic support for them is.<\/p>\n<p>Henry Ramos Allup, of the Democratic Action party (a member of the Socialist International), defended the opposition\u2019s participation after the opposition was unbanned from participating, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/es\/minuto-a-minuto\/20210831-oposici%C3%B3n-de-venezuela-anuncia-plataforma-electoral-unitaria-tras-a%C3%B1os-de-boicot\">ending<\/a> a three-year boycott on Venezuela\u2019s rigged electoral processes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t have all the guarantees, but we will participate,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/efectococuyo.com\/politica\/ramos-allup-no-tenemos-todas-las-garantias-pero-vamos-a-participar\/\">said<\/a> Ramos Allup.<\/p>\n<p>Interim President Juan Guaid\u00f3 has not explicitly called for participation in these elections and has instead <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/america\/venezuela\/2021\/09\/01\/juan-guaido-exigio-garantias-para-la-realizacion-de-elecciones-libres-y-justas-el-proximo-21-de-noviembre-en-venezuela\/\">demanded<\/a> guarantees for free and fair elections for these upcoming ones and for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lapatilla.com\/2020\/10\/20\/guaido-luchamos-por-condiciones-para-elecciones-presidenciales-y-parlamentarias\/\">future<\/a> presidential and legislative elections.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>However, the political party that he was part of until 2020, Popular Will (also a member of the Socialist International), is among the participating parties in these upcoming elections. Leopoldo L\u00f3pez, head of Popular Will living in exile, also supported the opposition\u2019s participation as an \u201copportunity to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are not free elections,\u201d he <a href=\"https:\/\/cnnespanol.cnn.com\/video\/leopoldo-lopez-elecciones-venezuela-noviembre-fernando-del-rincon-conclusiones-cnne\/\">stated<\/a> in an interview given to CNN en Espa\u00f1ol, backing Guaid\u00f3 on his stance against the elections. Yet, as a Venezuelan voter, the support and call to participation in a sham election feels almost paradoxical.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Some opposition politicians have expressed their support in not participating in this upcoming sham. \u201cNot voting in a dictatorship is also a right,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elnacional.com\/venezuela\/david-smolansky-no-votar-en-dictadura-tambien-es-un-derecho\/\">said<\/a> opposition politician David Smolansky.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that some exiled Venezuelan politicians have now <a href=\"https:\/\/elpais.com\/internacional\/2021-08-21\/dirigentes-opositores-venezolanos-regresan-del-exilio.html\">returned<\/a> \u2014 with the tacit blessing of the socialist regime \u2014 to participate in these sham elections does, in my opinion, a gross disservice to the approximately 7 million Venezuelans who have so far fled the country. Among those that have recently returned from their exile are Enzo Scarano, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.el-carabobeno.com\/cne-admitio-candidatura-de-enzo-scarano\/\">seeks<\/a> to win the Governor seat in the State of Carabobo; Am\u00e9rico de Grazia, who <a href=\"https:\/\/talcualdigital.com\/americo-de-grazia-oficializa-candidatura-a-la-gobernacion-de-bolivar\/\">aspires<\/a> to win Bol\u00edvar\u2019s Governor seat; and Tomas Guanipa, former Ambassador for Guaid\u00f3\u2019s government to Colombia who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elnacional.com\/venezuela\/tomas-guanipa-el-gran-reto-que-tenemos-es-entusiasmar-a-la-gente-para-que-salga-a-votar\/\">running<\/a> for mayor of Caracas.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18756858\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"34\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-668206074.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18756858\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-668206074.jpg\" alt=\"Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa (C) greets supporters during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on April 13, 2017. A 32-year-old man died Thursday after being shot and wounded in a demonstration on April 11, becoming the fifth victim in the protests that began almost two weeks ago. Dozens of people have been injured and more than 100 arrested since April 6, according to authorities. \/ AFP PHOTO \/ JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO\/AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa (C) greets supporters during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on April 13, 2017.<\/em> (JUAN BARRETO\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Guanipa is a notable case. In 2017, he <a href=\"http:\/\/tureporte.com\/juan-pablo-guanipa-fue-electo-gobernador-hace-un-ano-con-el-51-35-de-los-votos\/\">won<\/a> the race for the governor\u2019s seat in the state of Zulia. Out of the five opposition governors who won in that election, he was the only one that did not agree to be sworn in by the socialist regime\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/news\/ap-explains-what-is-venezuelas-constituent-assembly\/\">sham<\/a> \u201cNational Constituent Assembly\u201d and, as a result, he was stripped of his victory. During that time, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mundo\/noticias-america-latina-41752308\">declared<\/a> that the opposition should not participate in electoral processes without proper guarantees.<\/p>\n<p>Having opposition figureheads now suddenly defend calling to participate in an electoral farce just because it suits their interests is something I cannot condone nor be part of. I\u2019d rather just spend that day staring at my bedroom\u2019s ceiling. It\u2019s a better use of my time.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition leaders have failed to address how they will ensure that the corrupt election system in this country will work. Venezuela\u2019s electoral system is a paradox. On one hand, it has safety measures in place that, in theory, should amount to a robust, fool-proof, and transparent election \u2013 such as obligatory in-person voting on the day of the election and mandatory ID and fingerprint checks. Unlike the United States, there is no possibility to cast a vote via absentee or mail-in ballots. Additionally, there is on-site physical and digital auditing of each voting center before transmitting the data to the totalization center.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, it is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cato.org\/commentary\/corruption-democracy-venezuela\">corrupt<\/a> system, with a stained and unreliable voter registry. Following the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartmatic.com\/us\/media\/article\/smartmatic-statement-on-the-recent-constituent-assembly-election-in-venezuela\/\">departure<\/a> of international election technology company Smartmatic in 2017 after the regime tampered with its systems to ensure a victory, the regime <a href=\"https:\/\/eldiario.com\/2020\/10\/09\/cne-maquina-software-elecciones\/\">uses<\/a> Chinese-manufactured machines running proprietary Venezuelan software.<\/p>\n<p>The Socialist Party rigs elections even when only socialists are on the ballot. Countless reports of glaring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/america\/venezuela\/2021\/06\/29\/trampas-alteracion-de-libros-de-votantes-y-hasta-uso-de-las-faes-el-todo-vale-en-las-elecciones-del-chavismo-en-la-frontera\/\">cheating<\/a> and fraud surfaced this year during the regional primaries. Maduro\u2019s thugs regularly <a href=\"https:\/\/runrun.es\/rr-es-plus\/457608\/disidencias-chavistas-son-perseguidas-por-sus-antiguos-camaradas\/\">intimidate<\/a> \u201cdissident\u201d <em>chavistas<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18757002\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"38\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236482126.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18757002\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236482126.jpg\" alt=\"Members of social movements attend a rally with Venezuelan deputy and vice-president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, at Carabobo Park in Caracas, on November 10, 2021. (Photo by Pedro Rances Mattey \/ AFP) (Photo by PEDRO RANCES MATTEY\/AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Members of social movements attend a rally with Venezuelan deputy and vice-president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, at Carabobo Park in Caracas, on November 10, 2021. (PEDRO RANCES MATTEY\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Blatant voter coercion is another huge factor to consider, as public sector workers and beneficiaries of the socialist regime\u2019s programs (housing, food handouts, or monetary stipends) face extreme pressure to vote for the socialist candidates in each election \u2014 to the point that citizens are threatened to not even receive opposition candidates in their areas, or face losing <a href=\"https:\/\/cronica.uno\/en-los-olivos-rechazan-presunto-intento-que-quitarles-bolsas-clap\/\">access<\/a> to the regime\u2019s CLAP food handouts. The threat is so ingrained that it\u2019s even <a href=\"https:\/\/efectococuyo.com\/politica\/ensayo-en-petare-incluye-puntos-rojos-y-campana-electoral\/\">carried<\/a> out during election rehearsal exercises through the use of \u201cred points,\u201d where participants must scan their Fatherland ID card once the voting rehearsal is carried out.<\/p>\n<p>Election rehearsal, or simulacrum, is a routine activity that the Venezuelan Electoral Council organizes weeks before any election on specific voting centers to test their technological platform (including the fingerprint scanners), data transmission infrastructure, and to garner data pertaining to the voting process, such as the estimated voting time.<\/p>\n<p>None of these are new phenomena in the country, and all of these (and more) were strong enough reasons to lead the Venezuelan opposition to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-venezuela-election\/vote-for-what-venezuelan-opposition-boycotts-parliamentary-election-idUSKBN28G056\">boycott<\/a> the 2020 legislative elections \u2014 and yet, the same opposition is now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/news\/venezuelan-opposition-to-participate-in-regional-elections\/\">calling<\/a> for its electorate to participate in next month\u2019s elections, against the same socialist party, and under the same unfair and rigged scenario.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union\u2019s decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/america\/venezuela\/2021\/10\/22\/la-eurocamara-acordo-enviar-diputados-a-verificar-las-elecciones-de-venezuela\/\">send<\/a> a group of observers, far from guaranteeing a fair election, only serves to further socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro\u2019s agenda and gives a degree of legitimacy to an otherwise rigged process.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18757050\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"40\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1235607172.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18757050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1235607172.jpg\" alt=\"Spanish Rafael Dochao Moreno, Charge d&#039;Affaires of the European Union (EU) in Venezuela, speaks during the signing of agreements for the observation mission ahead of the 2021 regional and municipal elections with the president of the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) Pedro Calzadilla (out of frame), in Caracas, on September 30, 2021. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ \/ AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ\/AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Spanish Rafael Dochao Moreno, Charge d\u2019Affaires of the European Union (EU) in Venezuela, speaks during the signing of agreements for the observation mission ahead of the 2021 regional and municipal elections with the president of the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) Pedro Calzadilla (out of frame), in Caracas, on September 30, 2021. (YURI CORTEZ\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A rigged and apathetic election will come with zero surprises in its results. The United Socialist Party (PSUV) will sweep most of the seats. The opposition will certainly accrue a handful of victories here and there, especially on \u201cbastions\u201d such as the Chacao municipality in Caracas. Leftists and marxist ideologues all around the world will sing high praises of the \u201csolid\u201d Venezuelan electoral system. The socialist regime gets to further their \u201cwe are 100-percent democratic\u201d narratives. Life will go on as usual in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>Even if by some chance the opposition manages to obtain a sweeping victory, the regime will do everything and anything to minimize and\/or outright neutralize these victories, just as they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2017\/05\/02\/venezuela-national-assembly-alternative-legislature\/\">did<\/a> with the opposition\u2019s 2015 legislative <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/news\/venezuelas-opposition-wins-control-of-national-assembly\/\">victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The opposition\u2019s participation, instead of an act of defiance, is an act of coexistence and collaborationism with the socialist regime. Ultimately, it doesn\u2019t matter if the opposition snatches a governor\u2019s seat or two. My birthplace, Zulia will continue to be <a href=\"https:\/\/elpitazo.net\/occidente\/zulia-racionamientos-electricos-se-acentuan-en-maracaibo-tras-apagones-generales\/\">plagued<\/a> by constant power blackouts and electricity rationing. Water shortages will dictate many aspects of my life, Venezuela\u2019s health infrastructure will continue to be in shambles, and children have no access to proper education.<\/p>\n<p><em>Christian K. Caruzo is a Venezuelan writer and documents life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KalebPrime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CARACAS \u2014 Venezuela will hold regional elections on November 21. This time around, \u201cthe people\u201d will \u201celect\u201d 3,082 men and women \u2013 split across the country\u2019s 23 governor seats, 335 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1037401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1037401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1037401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1037401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1037401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1037401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1037401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}