Venezuela currently has a population of approximately 29.4 million people, of which 21.4 million can theoretically vote in the presidential elections on July 28, both inside and outside the country.
However, due to the various requirements imposed by the Government for voter registration abroad, only 69,211 Venezuelans abroad are eligible to vote – fewer than in the previous Venezuelan elections, which were 110,000 – which represents a small fraction of the approximately eight million Venezuelans who, according to UN data, have emigrated, a figure that Nicolás Maduro’s government lowers to two million.
And even if there were no obstacles, not all Venezuelans abroad would be able to vote because many of them are minors and others, mainly those who emigrated many years ago, have no interest in these elections.
Of the eight million Venezuelans living outside their country, around five million are of legal age and should be able to vote in the elections, but only 69,000 are eligible to do so, Estefania Parra Anselmi, international coordinator of Voluntad Popular and member of the command that brings together the opposition members residing in Spain, explains to EFE.
Colombia, nearly three million displaced
Nearly three million Venezuelans currently live in Colombia, making it the country that has welcomed the most citizens of that nationality.
This population arrived looking for better horizons due to the political, social and economic crisis in Venezuela.
According to the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there are 2.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia, which places this country as the regional epicenter of the Venezuelan exodus.
Much of this population hopes that the elections on July 28 will bring about a change in their country, although many will not be able to vote due to difficulties in registering and the high cost of obtaining documents such as a valid passport, which allows voting abroad.
Spain, the European country with the most compatriots
Spain is the European country that welcomes the most Venezuelan migrants, including many opposition leaders who have left Venezuela in recent years.
Among them are Dinorah Figuera, Antonio Ledezma, Diego Arria and Leopoldo López, who are part of the Spanish campaign command of María Corina Machado.
These opponents have worked in favour of the candidacy of Edmundo González Urrutia and are confident of defeating Maduro at the polls.
However, they fear that Maduro will not accept the results or manipulate them, since they consider his regime to be one that resorts to cheating and fraud.
They have therefore called on European governments to take measures to prevent fraud.
Parliamentarians from European and Latin American countries will travel to Venezuela to take part in the presidential elections, and the opposition abroad has called for several demonstrations in support of its candidate.
Venezuelans in Brazil will face difficulties in voting, as they were only able to register at the Embassy in Brasilia and at the Consulate General in São Paulo, the only places where they will be able to vote on July 28.
Of the seven consulates that Venezuela had in Brazil, five were closed between 2019 and 2022 during the government of Jair Bolsonaro, and did not reopen after the normalization of relations.
There are around 125,000 Venezuelans living in Brazil under the protection of Operation Welcome, and it is estimated that another 400,000 have entered in the last six years, although many have continued on to other countries. There are no clear figures on how many Venezuelans remain in Brazil and are eligible to vote.
Peru, one and a half million Venezuelans and only 589 will be able to vote
There are around 1.5 million Venezuelans living in Peru, of whom around 900,000 are of voting age.
However, according to figures from the National Electoral Council (CNE), only 589 are eligible to vote.
Most have been unable to register due to obstacles imposed by the authorities, which require permanent residency, a valid passport and an identity card.
On July 28, the Venezuelan Consulate in Buenos Aires will open its doors for voting in a day that will include a migrant fair and the reception of Argentine leaders who collaborated in the search for freedom in Venezuela.
Elisa Trotta, a human rights activist, explains that the accompaniment seeks to support Venezuelan voters in Argentina.
In Argentina, 2,638 Venezuelans will vote, a small number compared to the nearly 250,000 Venezuelan residents in the country.
Trotta says that this vote has a special symbolism and that those eligible will do so to express their desire for political change.
In Italy it is difficult to establish the number of Venezuelan residents because the majority have dual nationality.
According to the Venezuelan Embassy in Italy, there are 13,548 Venezuelans in the country, but figures from the opposition command of María Corina Machado estimate between 300,000 and 350,000 Italo-Venezuelans.
The requirements imposed by consulates have made it difficult for many to vote.
Maria Claudia Lopez, president of the Italian-Venezuelan Association and of the opposition campaign, complains that consulates have requested impossible requirements, preventing many from voting.
Lima / EFE
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2024-07-23 06:26:19
