CARACAS, March 18, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuelan presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado, who has been disqualified from holding public office, has called for calm ahead of the nomination of presidential candidates this month.
The Latin American country goes to the polls on July 28 and nominations for candidates will open between March 21 and 25.
President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in office for 11 years marked by sanctions, economic collapse and accusations of widespread repression, will seek a third term.
Polls show that Machado, who overwhelmingly won an opposition primary vote, would likely beat Maduro in a fair race.
However, she has been disqualified by Maduro-aligned courts on charges of corruption, which have been widely dismissed as spurious, and for supporting Western sanctions against Maduro's government.
"To every Venezuelan, be calm and confident that I will make the right decisions going forward. Serenity and firmness to move forward, never go backward," said Machado in a video she released on social networks.
"The regime wants to compete with false opposition candidates chosen by the Miraflores (presidential palace) leadership," said Machado, who continues to campaign.
Machado, 56, did not specify her plans.
She accused Maduro of violating an agreement, signed by the government and the opposition in Barbados last year, to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present.
"The international community is committed to the Barbados agreement and has made it clear that this year there must be free and fair elections with respect to the candidacy that the people chose," Machado said.
In January, she said the Barbados agreement was "mortally wounded" after government authorities claimed to have foiled numerous US-backed plots to assassinate Maduro.
The CNE electoral council has said it would invite election observers from the European Union and United Nations, the US-based Carter Center NGO, BRICS and the African Union, among others, although no official invitations have been sent.
