In Venezuela, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado faced obstacles and government roadblocks while campaigning for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in Maracaibo. Despite being barred from running herself, Machado rallied voters and drew crowds of support, despite facing harassment and arrests of her campaign staff. Even as the government targeted grassroots supporters and small businesses aligned with the opposition, momentum for change seemed to build ahead of the election. However, President Nicolas Maduro warned of potential violence if the opposition were to win, sparking concerns of repression and electoral manipulation. With concerns over the integrity of the vote growing, opposition leaders remained hopeful of a victory that could end nearly 25 years of socialist rule in Venezuela. Despite the challenges and threats of violence, grassroots support and a desire for change seemed to be gaining momentum as the election drew closer. The international community also expressed concern over the potential for anti-democratic measures and violence in the lead-up to the election, as Venezuelans prepared to head to the polls in a critical moment for the country’s future.
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