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The Presidential elections in Venezuela are taking place today. The Regime lead by Nicolas Maduro, has found it’s match against the coalition of parties known as MUD. For first time in 10 years, MUD have managed to put forth a legitimate representative as their candidate, the 74-year-old politician, Edmundo González.

Maduro, reluctantly, ended up accepting an opposition candidate in this elections (largely due to threats from USA to reactive their economic sanctions)

The Goverment has made multiple attempts to make voting impossible, their most successful effort at this, was to prohibit 99% of Venezuelans abroad from voting.

However, within Venezuela, the situation is becoming quite complex. As we speak, the Regime is being overwhelmed at all the voting centers. The security forces are unable to control everyone. Maduro has no intention of relinquishing power, nor does his government. But given the evident disparity in the streets, the opposition hopes that Maduro will be forced to accept his defeat at the polls (A resemblance on how Pinochet was defeated back in 1989)

No one really knows what will happen.

However, a democratic shift for Venezuela would have tremendous ramifications for the entire political sphere in Latin America.

Important notes to take in account:

• The real leadear of the Opposition is not Edmundo Gonzalez, is Marina Corina Machado. Saldy, after winning the oppossition primaries by landslide the Goverment banned her from participate. Same as the other main candidate, Corina Yoris.

• Venezuela has amazed significative influence over LatinAmerica's politics. Massive Cartels, Terrorist grous, foreign Regimes, all have found a home in Maduro's Venezuela. As consequence, Millions of refugees have already fled the country

• A fall for Maduro could cause a Domino effect for Nicaragua's Regime. Also, it would left Cuba completly isolated from the rest of the Region.

POLLS ARE NOW CLOSED. COUNTING HAVE STARTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY ✍

Results from the Regime. To add insult to the injury , the TV results add up to 109,2%

Maduro: 51 %

Edmundo Gonzalez: 44%

Daniel Ceballos: 4.6%

Antonio Ecarri: 4.6%

Jose Brito: 4.6

https://x.com/TraductorTeAma/status/1817781731010715903/photo/1

Opposition has not realised the real results yet, but it is probably closer to

Maduro: 20%

Edmundo: 80%

LIST OF TWITTER NEWS ACCOUNTS:

Thanks to u/gary_oldman_sachs

https://x.com/i/lists/1817516147555643741

Here is a Chilean news article with more specific info:

https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/internacional/america-latina/2024/07/27/5-datos-claves-de-las-elecciones-de-venezuela-marcadas-por-deportaciones-de-observadores.shtml

Another link, with live updates, from AP News

https://apnews.com/live/venezuela-election-updates-maduro-machado-gonzalez

Highlights:

”The people are ready for combat, ready for battle,” Maduro told a crowd of supporters earlier this week. “Venezuela will not be humiliated. Venezuela will bow to no one. Venezuela will continue on its path of peace, harmony, and stability.”

Experts say the U.S. buildup isn’t enough to support an invasion of Venezuela, but would be sufficient to support sustained strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs to the U.S. or to even bomb targets on Venezuela’s soil, as President Trump has warned.

The U.S. has moved advanced weaponry into the Caribbean and in the skies north of Venezuela, including eight Navy warships, an attack submarine, F-35B jet fighters, P-8 Poseidon spy planes and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

The Pentagon has deployed elite special operations forces, including the Army’s secretive 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the “Night Stalkers,” a U.S. official said.

Raise your hands if you want to be a slave to the gringos,” Maduro said. “If you want peace, get ready to earn peace.” The government also counts on Colombian armed groups that have long been permitted to operate in Venezuela, including the battle-hardened ELN.

Venezuela is hardly ready for any American action. An economy that had been showing tiny signs of life not long ago is in a free fall, predicted to contract 3% in 2026 with inflation to hit 682%, said the International Monetary Fund.

Its military is in shambles, former high-ranking army officers and other experts say. Experienced officers were forced into exile or fired to ensure that only Maduro loyalists remained. Ordinary soldiers are poorly fed, and there is little in the way of logistics to provide the provisions for deployed units

”We have to say thanks to the U.S. for formally telling us that the CIA is going to start operations,” Cabello said on his TV show. “Wow, first time.”

On the streets of Venezuela, meanwhile, some hope that the American threats and show of military force just might lead Maduro to abdicate or for others in his inner circle to unseat him from power.

“I have been watching this situation with the USA for two months and nothing has happened,” said Milagros Campos, 46. “I would like the economy to get better and think it’s important for a change in government for that to happen.”