Venezuela is set to hold a presidential election on Sunday, with the incumbent President Nicolas Maduro seeking a third term in office. The election has drawn significant international attention, with the opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado, facing a ban from holding public office and the United States reimposing sanctions due to concerns about electoral fairness. Here is a timeline of the events leading up to this closely watched vote:
2013:
Nicolas Maduro, a former bus driver and protégé of President Hugo Chavez, assumes power after Chavez’s death from cancer. Maduro narrowly wins the election, with the opposition alleging irregularities.2018:
Maduro is elected to a second term in a vote boycotted by the mainstream opposition and deemed fraudulent by the United States and other international actors.2019:
Opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido invokes the Venezuelan constitution to assume an interim presidency, garnering international support but limited control over state institutions.2020:
The United States offers to begin lifting sanctions if the opposition and members of Maduro’s Socialist Party form an interim government without Maduro.2021:
Talks commence between Maduro’s government and the opposition led by Guaido, but these discussions yield little progress.2022:
The government and opposition resume talks after a year’s hiatus, addressing issues such as presidential elections, the status of hundreds of political prisoners, and U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. Venezuela’s opposition national assembly dissolves Guaido’s interim government.2023:
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June 23:
Maria Corina Machado, a 56-year-old engineer and former lawmaker, registers to compete in a primary election as the candidate for Venezuela’s opposition coalition. She is widely considered a frontrunner.*
June 30:
Maduro’s government bars Machado from holding public office for 15 years, drawing international condemnation. It cites Machado’s support for U.S. sanctions and accuses her of corruption, allegations she denies.*
October 17:
In Barbados, Maduro’s government and the opposition reach an agreement. The government pledges guarantees for a 2024 election in exchange for limited U.S. sanctions relief. Notably, this agreement does not lift bans on opposition candidates barred from public office.*
October 18:
The U.S. eases some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas industry and lifts restrictions on bond trading. This move sets a deadline for Maduro to begin rescinding bans on candidates, release political prisoners, and free “wrongfully detained” Americans by the end of November.*
October 19:
Five individuals, including prominent opposition figures, are released from jail in Venezuela.*
October 22:
Machado wins the opposition primary with over 90% of the more than 2.3 million votes cast.*
December 15:
Machado appeals her ban on holding office.*
December 20:
Ten Americans and 24 Venezuelans are freed in exchange for the U.S. release of a Maduro ally.2024:
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January 23:
The U.S. State Department expresses concern over the arrests of at least 33 Venezuelans, including opposition members.*
January 26:
Venezuela’s top court upholds Machado’s public office ban.*
January 29:
The U.S. begins reinstating sanctions and warns it could reverse its rollback of restrictions on the oil industry.*
March 16:
Maduro announces his candidacy for reelection.*
March 22:
Machado names academic Corina Yoris as her successor. However, Yoris is unable to register on the electoral council’s online system, leaving the coalition without a candidate.*
March 26:
Edmundo Gonzalez is registered as a placeholder candidate.*
April 5:
Argentina grants political asylum to six Machado campaign staff members, following the issuance of arrest warrants for them. They remain at Argentina’s embassy in Caracas.*
April 17:
Washington reimposes broad oil sanctions, citing Maduro’s failure to comply with the electoral deal.*
April 19:
Venezuela’s major opposition coalition backs Gonzalez.*
May:
Machado campaigns extensively across Venezuela for her replacement.*
May 28:
Maduro’s government revokes an invitation to the EU to send election observers, citing ongoing EU sanctions.*
