Members of the Venezuelan diaspora have encountered significant issues when trying to register for the first time or change their information to cast their vote for the 28 July election. The National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral-CNE) announced that citizens would be able to register from abroad between 18 March to 16 April, yet many have faced numerous hurdles. These issues have been particularly evident in Argentina, a country with a large Venezuelan diaspora. There, the electoral registration began two weeks after the set time and was only announced through informal channels. Similar accounts of delays and irregularities have been seen throughout Latin America. Other prerequisites to vote, not foreseen in Venezuela's electoral framework, have also been added by Maduro's government, making registration from abroad more costly and timely. Thus, even though Venezuelan citizens might be registered, some cannot afford to go through the process of voting from abroad. 

Sources: Caracas Chronicles, Radio France Internationale, The Associated Press 

A bill known as the ‘Law against Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions’ received preliminary approval from the legislature on 2 April. The bill establishes a broad and ambiguous definition of fascism, in contravention of human rights standards. Critics have expressed their concern over this bill, as it would increase criminalization of President Nicolas Maduro's political opponents and dissent. Its provisions include potential restrictions to free speech and freedom of assembly and association as a consequence of prohibitions on organizations and demonstrations that ‘glorify fascism’. Incitement to or ‘carrying out violent actions as a means or way to exercise political rights’ may carry a sentence of eight to twelve years imprisonment and ineligibility to hold public office. 

Sources: El País, Amnesty International 

Venezuela’s opposition is facing fragmentation as Corina Yoris, Maria Corina Machado’s preferred choice to run in her place in the upcoming elections, was unable to register as presidential candidate in the National Electoral Council’s portal. Machado, who had won the opposition’s October primaries by a landslide, had rallied opposition parties behind Yoris before her candidacy was rejected in a measure deemed as arbitrary by national and international experts. The governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, who has been a part of the Unitary Platform, the opposition’s alliance, was able to register his candidacy, but not without criticism within the opposition, due to the lack of internal agreement. Social Democrat leader Enrique Marquez, and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the Platform’s preferred choice to serve as temporary candidate, were also able to register while negotiations with the government continue. 

Sources: El Pais, Infobae, Voz de America 

The Maduro Government has ordered the closure of Venezuela’s office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), expelling its international staff. The government also argues that they had engaged in “colonial and abusive” behavior and had violated the UN Charter. Authorities further announced that they would reassess their cooperation with the OHCHR within 30 days. In the days prior to the decision, the OHCHR Venezuela office had expressed its concern over the detention of prominent activist Rocio San Miguel, whose whereabouts were unknown for several days. Local NGOs and other human rights defenders have condemned the decision to end cooperation with the UN human rights office. 

Sources: La Vanguardia, The New York Times

Venezuela’s Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, TSJ) confirmed the ineligibility of Maria Corina Machado, who won a primary election held by opposition parties in October, to run for president. Machado had been declared ineligible to run for office for 15 years by the General Comptroller’s office, on the grounds that she had backed US sanctions against Venezuela and had supported the former opposition leader, Juan Guaido. She resorted to an appeal mechanism, established in the context of the Barbados Agreement on electoral guarantees. The latter resulted from the dialogue between government and opposition in the past months, regarding the conditions to ensure free and fair elections in Venezuela in 2024. In this sense, aspiring politicians with a prior determination of ineligibility were allowed to challenge their status. However, the TSJ dismissed the appeal of Machado, the opposition’s chosen candidate.  

Sources: Agencia EFE, Voz de America, International IDEA