Maduro Fails to Rally Venezuelan Nationalism in Vote Over Border
- Opposition, critics question 10.4 million participation figure
- Maduro is widely expected to run for a third term next year
Nicolas Maduro casts a ballot during a referendum vote in Caracas, Venezuela on Dec. 3.
Photographer: Gaby Oraa/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Nicolás Maduro’s attempt to rally patriotic Venezuelans in a referendum over a border dispute fell short of his goals, signaling a rocky start to his presidential campaign.
Polling centers were largely deserted on Sunday as most voters ignored his calls to mobilize. The government’s report that 10.4 million voters took part met widespread skepticism, but even that fell short of Maduro’s target of 12 million.