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Maria Corina Machado Endorses Surprise Candidate Against Maduro, Increasing Election Stakes

Apr 22, 2024, 08:17 PM

In a surprising turn of events in Venezuela's political landscape, Edmundo Gonzalez, a low-profile diplomat, has been announced as the last-minute opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential election in July. This decision, which Maduro did not anticipate, comes after Maria Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader who is barred from running, endorsed Gonzalez as her stand-in against President Nicolas Maduro. The move has sparked discussions on Maduro's tactics to limit viable opposition candidates and the potential implications for the election's legitimacy. The newfound unity within the opposition is seen as a significant challenge to Maduro's administration, which has been accused of undermining the electoral process to maintain power. The cost for Maduro to remove Gonzalez from the race has now significantly increased.