(CNN Spanish) — There is already a date for the internal elections that will choose the standard-bearer of the Venezuelan opposition for the 2024 presidential elections. In the presence of the main opposition parties, unions, representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps accredited in Caracas, the president of the Commission Nacional de Primarias, Jesús María Casal, announced that the elections will be on Sunday, October 22.
The primaries are announced at a time of great fragmentation of the Venezuelan opposition, among other issues, around the decision to dissolve the figure of the interim government headed by Juan Guaidó, which was recognized by countries such as the United States and Canada, but which was not had no power or control in the national territory.
Juan Guaido
During the announcement, Cazal detailed the steps applicants must follow to appear on the ballots. They will have a five-day period —between May 18 and 23— to register. This registration also entails the signing of an agreement to respect the results, to adhere to the guidelines of a government plan defined by the opposition Unitary Platform and to finance his candidacy, although this last point, as explained by Cazal, will not be mandatory. for applicants.
After that period, from May 24 to June 23, the application period will take place, that is, the formalization of the pre-candidacies for those who complied with the established precautions.
Casal stated that after June 23 “the primaries require everyone’s cooperation.”
The president of the National Commission for Primaries reiterated the request for assistance from the National Electoral Council to organize the process, and said that they aspire to use the voting centers that are set up for all elections in Venezuela.
On February 10, the government-controlled National Electoral Council said on Twitter that it had appointed “a technical commission to determine the scope of its eventual assistance” in the opposition primaries.
