There are elections now, Maduro proclaimed after the vote. The National Assembly will share a preliminary decision with the names of primary candidates, the parties involved, and the movements that have shown readiness to participate. The 2024 election calendar is under scrutiny as the president speaks of inclusive dialogue. Yet the rhetoric sits against a political reality that has echoed through recent cycles of disappointment. A leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, who won the primaries, was blocked by the High Court for alleged involvement in conspiratorial acts. The United States tightened economic sanctions on Caracas, spurring concerns about a broader return to earlier crisis patterns. The government is moving to set the terms for Maduro to contest the presidential race that is due later this year, while Washington weighs how to respond to the evolving situation.
The Venezuelan scene is notably cyclical. Negotiations surface, a tentative opening is proposed, and then official complaints about failed attacks on Maduro reemerge, followed by a new wave of repression and a hardening stance at Miraflores Palace. It was not surprising when a State Department spokesperson announced that economic sanctions would take effect on April 18, affecting sectors such as oil, gas, and precious metals, and potentially shaping arrangements with international partners. On that day, the easing provisions tied to the Barbados talks between the Maduro regime and the opposition were shown to be ending, signaling a return to a more constrained political environment.
The High Court’s decision on Machado’s candidacy drew international attention. The White House has reiterated that the Barbados framework remains a viable path to a competitive and inclusive election, provided Maduro and his associates uphold agreed principles. The aim is to establish a clear roadmap that ensures opposition actors can freely select their candidates for the 2024 presidential elections. Costa Rica, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Panama, Canada, and Ecuador joined in expressing concern about the TSJ’s ruling, with Chile signaling its worries about the ongoing conduct of the process.
Here is the agreement that rejects foreign threats against Venezuela and was unanimously approved in the National Assembly today. The speaker expressed strong support for broad and inclusive dialogue to set the 2024 election calendar, calling for peace and the fair conduct of elections. This public stance reflects a bid for legitimacy amid international scrutiny.
— Nicolás Maduro
Official response to Washington
Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez reacted swiftly, arguing that any escalation would amount to economic coercion and blackmail. She warned that repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants could be canceled if pressure intensified, and pledged to review cooperation mechanisms in response to what she described as hostile actions.
Oil Minister Rafael Tellechea declared that Venezuela is prepared to meet upcoming conditions. He stated that the country would rely on a strong energy sector to weather the global energy crisis if sanctions deepen.
Although not all opposition figures aligned with Machado supported the right-wing program proposed by Vente Venezuela, they perceived Maduro’s tone as sharp again while backing the call for a broad national dialogue to shape the election program. A senior parliamentary official urged stakeholders across business, agriculture, the arts, and education to join the process. The National Electoral Council has remained silent through these developments.
What has occurred is not merely punitive. It is framed by officials as a political and legal action, viewed by supporters as a necessary response to perceived abuses of power.
— Maria Corina Machado
Intersection
“There is no election without me,” Machado asserted. She argued that millions of voters demand change and backed her candidacy to defeat Maduro in the primaries, accusing the regime of underestimating that demand.
Political analyst Luis Vicente León suggested that sanctions remain a tool to confront a move he described as undemocratic. He noted that sanctions often reflect internal pressures and the challenge of balancing multiple political forces amid electoral pressure. León believes Maduro is unlikely to concede Machado’s path, and Venezuela could face renewed instability in areas such as supply, the productive sector, infrastructure, and the balance of power among distribution networks. The analyst also warned that opposition forces should see this as a broader strategic contest rather than a single personality battle. He noted that the opposition must understand the stakes are about the country’s future, not just a single leader.
León hinted that Maduro’s side might face defeat on home soil, drawing a historical parallel to years past when opposition forces in other Latin American contexts challenged entrenched regimes. The message from the opposition remains that the struggle is about governance and national direction, not merely an individual contest.