Venezuela opposition again without candidate as Yoris unable to register

26/3/2024 13:56

        Venezuela's opposition coalition was left without a candidate in the race for July's presidential elections after 80-year-old Corina Yoris was unable to register before the expiry of Monday's deadline.
        
        Yoris was named as the opposition candidate last week by Maria Corina Machado, who won the opposition nominating contest by a landslide last year to run against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, but has been banned from holding public office.
        
        The opposition was unable to access the electoral authority's online system to register Yoris as a candidate, coalition head Omar Barboza said.
        
        Two people close to Machado were arrested last week, causing outcry from Washington, which has already warned it will allow oil sanction relaxations to expire in April if the socialist government of Maduro does not allow free and fair elections.