By Natalia Rueda 
The situation in Venezuela is chaotic and uncertain due to the absence of a defined date and candidates for the presidential elections. Despite the agreement reached between Venezuela and the United States months ago with the objective of holding free and fair elections, recent decisions of the Maduro regime have made it clear that such agreement is no longer valid. The Venezuelan leader is determined to remain in power, which generates confusion and concern among voters and internationally.
Since the death of former President Hugo Chávez in 2013, Nicolás Maduro has been in power and shows no signs of leaving it. Although publicly insisting on holding presidential elections this year, the regime’s actions suggest otherwise.
The most recent controversial decision of the Supreme Court, composed of government loyalists, has been to ban opposition leader María Corina Machado from holding any public office for 15 years due to alleged financial irregularities in her tenure as a member of the National Assembly. This measure effectively eliminates a strong opposition candidate, leaving Maduro with little competition.
This delay and manipulation of the electoral process not only affects Venezuelan citizens, but also international relations. The agreement reached between Venezuela and the United States was an important breakthrough, especially for President Joe Biden, who will need the country’s cooperation to address the issue of illegal immigration. However, with the blocking of opposition candidates and the continued postponement of elections, the already fragile relationship between the two countries is threatened.
But instead, voters are left in limbo and the international community must question the true intentions of Maduro and his regime. Will these elections ever really take place? And if so, will it be a legitimate and fair process?
Venezuela remains an enigma both for its own citizens and for international relations. The fate of the country and its role in the global community is at stake, making the Venezuelan presidential elections a crucial and unpredictable event with far-reaching implications.
With information from CNN