The Venezuelan opposition chooses Machado as its "unitary" candidate for the presidential elections

MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Supporters of the main Venezuelan opposition parties have chosen the Vente Venezuela candidate, María Corina Machado, in this Sunday's primary elections as their "unitary" candidate against Chavismo for the 2024 presidential elections.

"Today the democratic forces achieved the objective: our unitary candidate, María Corina Machado, who will represent us in the presidential election and will be the example of each step we take until we consolidate the political change. United we are going to change Venezuela. Image of unity, of strength and joy," the Democratic Unitary Platform has published on its social network account X, formerly Twitter.

Machado has been proclaimed the winner of these elections with 26.6 percent counted and after achieving an overwhelming victory with more than 93 percent of votes, as reported by the National Primary Commission.

The second most voted candidate has been Carlos Prosperi, who has achieved the support of 4.75 percent of voters. The rest of the candidates have been Delsa Solórzano, Andrés Caleca, César Pérez Vivas, Andrés Velásquez, Tamara Adrián, Gloria Pinho, César Almeida and Luis Baló Farías, although none has reached 1 percent of the votes.

These results ensure the formation of a common front after years marked by public disagreements between some of the main opposition actors.

Henrique Capriles, the last major unitary opposition candidate in a presidential election, who also withdrew from the electoral race so that his disqualification would not be a burden, has congratulated Machado on his victory.

"I congratulate the winning candidate María Corina Machado for her unquestionable victory in this election. This process reinforces the importance of unity in our fight for democracy. Today we have taken a significant step towards the consolidation of a united front that allows defeat in the 2024 to (President of Venezuela, Nicolás) Maduro and the worst Government in the history of the country," Capriles said in his X account.

"I want to express my recognition to all Venezuelans inside and outside our territory who dedicated themselves tirelessly to making this primary election possible (...) Despite all the difficulties of a country in economic and social crisis, a very important percentage of Venezuelans rose up to exercise their right to vote, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the democratic cause and to the electoral route," he added.

The primaries have been held in 3,010 voting centers and more than 5,000 tables distributed in the municipalities of Venezuela and 27 countries abroad.

These elections took place after the Venezuelan Government and the opposition closed an agreement in principle in Barbados for the holding of elections next year, in an unprecedented gesture well received by the different national and international actors.

This first pact was enough for the United States to temporarily ease sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry and authorize the first flight of migrants returned to the South American country, while the Chavista authorities allowed the release of five political prisoners, including journalist Roland Carreño and former deputy Juan Requesens.