Venezuela Opposition Split on Who Will Challenge Maduro in July Election
- María Corina Machado pushes forward with candidacy despite ban
- Moderate opposition leaders seek to appoint a substitute
Nicolas Maduro is under international pressure to reverse the ban on leading opposition contender María Corina Machado.
Photographer: Gaby Oraa/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Venezuela’s decision to hold presidential elections in July has sent shock waves through the opposition, which now has less than three weeks to find a challenger to Nicolás Maduro.
Facing a March 25 deadline for candidates to register, the opposition is fractured over how to proceed with leading contender María Corina Machado banned from participating in the election. Some support Machado’s continued attempts to fight her disqualification by a government court, while others want to move on and pick a replacement.