519: Explaining Venezuela's 2024 presidential elections

Venezuelans go to the polls to vote for a president on 28 July 2024, in what will not be free and fair elections, this much is certain. Here on the Colombia Calling podcast, we understand the necessity and importance of informing our listeners further about what is taking place and is in the news from sister and neighbouring countries to Colombia, and Venezuela is no exception. Ana Milagros Parra is renowned Venezuelan political scientist and also co-host of the excellent: "A Medias" podcast, a Spanish language broadcast discussing all things related to her home country. Most importantly, Parra has remained in Venezuela to continue to educate and work towards a more just future. But, having been described by Venezuelan strongman, Diasdado Cabello as: "more dangerous to Venezuela than a shooting in an elevator," she has to watch what she says. However, luckily for us, she feels more empowered in English and tells us how things are currently in her country. There is a movement towards freedom in Venezuela, the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez will unlikely win the elections, due to a likely dirty tricks campaign by the regime of Nicolas Maduro overseeing a criminal state, but this is the first time that the opposition has been organised, properly mobilised and leading the polls. This is largely due to the former candidacy of Maria Corina Machado, disqualified from running under spurious circumstances in 2023. As Parra says in our interview: "modern dictatorships dress in the shirt of democracy," so we will see what happens in coming days and months. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about Venezuelan politics. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Check out her Substack: https://substack.com/@ehart