By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her coalition’s candidate Edmundo Gonzalez say they are committed to unseat President Nicolas Maduro and end 25 years of dominance of the governing party.
This comes ahead of the Sunday’s election in which Maduro will test his popularity among the voters after his re-election in 2018 was described as fraudulent by the United States, among others.
Gonzalez has attracted significant support, even from former supporters of the ruling party.
The opposition and some observers have however questioned whether the vote will be fair, saying decisions by electoral authorities and the arrests of some opposition campaign staff are meant to create obstacles.
Gonzalez and Machado have urged voters to cast ballots early and hold “vigils” at polling stations until they close.
They have said they expect the military to uphold the results of the vote.
Venezuela’s military has long supported Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez.
Defence Minister General Vladimir Padrino has said the armed forces will respect the outcome of Sunday’s election.
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and is seeking his third six-year term, has said the country has the world’s most transparent electoral system and has warned of a “bloodbath” if he were to lose, comments rejected by his Latin American counterparts.
Maduro’s government has been accused of presiding over an economic collapse.
The migration of about a third of the population, and sharply deteriorated diplomatic relations, in addition to sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and others have crippled an already struggling oil industry.
