Venezuela’s Machado Headed for Victory in Opposition Primary
- Candidate supports market-friendly policies, oil privatization
- More than 2 million braved rain, scrutiny to cast vote
Maria Corina Machado celebrates during an election night rally in Caracas, Venezuela, on Oct. 23.
Photographer: Gaby Oraa/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Venezuela’s María Corina Machado took a commanding lead in an early count of Sunday’s opposition primary after a demonstrative turnout, putting her in position to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in the most serious threat to the ruling socialist regime in at least a decade.
Machado had 93% of the vote with 26% tallied, according to Jesús María Casal, head of the primaries organizing committee. More than 2 million people cast ballots, braving sweltering heat, torrential rainshowers and a confusing polling system made worse when Maduro’s government blocked the website that showed where to vote.