Profile of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro, as election campaign enters final week

(24 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 16 July 2024
1. Various of Maduro dancing alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, at a campaign rally

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 23 July 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Benigno Alarcon, political analyst
“I think Nicolás Maduro was a surprise for everyone because he ended up having more longevity in power than what people were betting on. Maduro first arrived in difficult circumstances after the death of Chavez, which undoubtedly helped him.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Archive: Caracas, Venezuela - 6 March 2013
3. Chavez supporter crying and screaming day after Chavez’ death was announced ++PART COVERING SHOT TWO++
4. Woman holding picture of Chavez ++PART COVERING SHOT TWO++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 23 July 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Benigno Alarcon, political analyst
“Due to international and internal pressures, Maduro had to open, to a certain extent, the electoral competition of 2021. He did not open it in 2020 for the parliamentary elections, but he had to open it for the regional and municipal elections (of 2021) and for the presidential elections this year. And there it is very difficult to win the election because if the opposition competes, as in fact it is competing, even if it competes in conditions opposite to the ideal, contrary to the ideal. At the end of the day, the majority of the people support the opposition, the popular support is on the side of the opposition.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 15 May 2024
6. Various of Maduro walking alongside supporters during a rally in Caracas ++PART COVERING SHOT FIVE++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 4 July 2024
7. Various of Maduro at launch of campaign for 2024 presidential elections ++PART COVERING SHOT FIVE++
STORYLINE:
From being a secondary character with Hugo Chávez at the helm of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro went on to rule the country, in his own words, with an iron fist.

His rule over the past decade faces a key test at the ballot box on Sunday in an election in which he faces his biggest electoral challenge since assuming power in 2013.

President Maduro is seeking re-election for a third six-year term. But now there is a substantial opposition with strong support. Experts and observers say this coalition has a real chance of winning.

After eleven years in power, in which he managed to overcome insurrections, massive protests, sanctions, international isolation, uprisings in the ranks of the ruling party and the deterioration of the national economy, Maduro faces the candidacy of a united opposition bloc that nurtures among its own people yearnings for change and hopes for a better future for Venezuela.

For the first time in his political career, the 61-year-old former trade unionist will be measured without the popularity and support he inherited from Chávez (1999-2013) after his death and that boosted him in the April 2013 election.

Neither with the advantage he had in the elections of 2018 where he practically ran unopposed after the opposition coalition refused to participate, alleging a lack of electoral guarantees.

In spite of the control that the ruling party has over the public powers, including the electoral power, and the backing of the military high command, analysts agree that Maduro does not seem to have it all his own way this time.

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#Venezuela #Maduro #president

[FrankMadero]

Election...hahahah is that what they are calling it 😂

[mikegreen]

We all know maduro isn't going no where

[cristhianrodriguez]

Man que mal me cae este bigotudo, si me dejaran 15 mints con el a solas, le haría lo que se merece en estos 15 años más de gobierno

[YoungBones]

I AM GOD THE LIVING APOCALYPSE PITY TO THE NATION APOCALYPSE FOREVER PLAYBOY JR YOUR GOING TO REMEMBER ME