Maduro seeks second term in vexed elections
>> CARACAS: Shrugging aside his country’s economic ruin and growing international isolation, Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro seeks a second six-year term in elections scheduled for today.
The US moved to further isolate Mr Maduro’s government on Friday by slapping sanctions on his powerful deputy and socialist party leader Diosdado Cabello.
“We are imposing costs on figures like Diosdado Cabello who exploit their official positions to engage in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement of state funds, and other corrupt activities,” said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
It was a fresh blow to Mr Maduro, whose ebullient campaign meetings have done little to disguise a lack of enthusiasm in the oil-rich but cash-poor South American country, where the result is widely seen as a foregone conclusion.
He held his final rally on Bolivar Avenue in downtown Caracas on Thursday, enlisting former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona to fire-up the crowd.
Applauded by Mr Maduro and his supporters, Maradona declared himself a Maduro “soldier”, waved a Venezuelan flag and punched the air as he danced to loud reggaeton music on the stage.
“Trust me, if you give me your vote and give us victory, I swear I will lead great economic changes and drive an economic revolution that will shake the world,” pledged Mr Maduro.
The 55-year-old former bus driver wore a green shirt with the image of his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez, emblazoned on the sleeve.
Mr Maduro is the clear favourite, despite trailing in opinion polls to his main rival Henri Falcon, and a low approval rating among Venezuelans fed up with hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, rising crime and broken water, power and transportation networks.
“I’m not going to vote for anyone. I’m concerned with surviving every day and things are getting more and more screwed up,” fruit seller Alexis Rodriguez said.
Opinion polls show Mr Falcon leading with 30% of voter intent, compared to Mr Maduro’s 20%. An evangelical candidate, Javier Bertucci, has 14%.
However, “low enthusiasm will likely reduce voter turnout and enable Mr Maduro to control the outcome without major social backlash,” said analyst Risa Grais-Targow of Eurasia Group.
Mr Maduro, with a tight grip on the electoral authorities, faces a bitterly divided opposition.
Mr Falcon wore the yellow, blue and red of Venezuela’s flag at his final rally in his western stronghold of Barquisimeto.
He told his supporters he had “faith” in overcoming the boycott, and “that we are going to vote massively.”
Meanwhile, Canada banned Venezuelan expats from voting in the election.