Diosdado says that the opposition "would benefit" from Maduro winning the presidential elections

Caracas, Jul 1 (EFE).- Chavista leader Diosdado Cabello, first vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), said Monday that it is “convenient” for the opposition that the current head of state and candidate for reelection, Nicolás Maduro, win the presidential elections on July 28.

“Even the opposition that is out there is interested in Nicolás Maduro winning, even the opposition is interested in it,” said the deputy at the party’s regular Monday press conference, broadcast on state channel VTV.

According to Cabello, considered the number two of Chavismo, the victory of the official candidate would guarantee “tranquility” to the country, while opposition leaders have tried to “provoke acts of violence,” although he did not name the people he refers to or provide evidence of the alleged disturbances.

The leader also said that the party’s expectations are “very good” and that its members feel “very excited,” especially after the electoral simulation this Sunday, which was, according to Cabello, a “preview of what will happen on July 28,” when Chavismo assures that Maduro will be reelected for the second consecutive time.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported on Monday that there was an “overwhelming” turnout in the simulation, although it did not provide data on the number of voters who attended the 1,174 voting centers set up, nor did it specify areas with the highest and lowest turnout.

Maduro’s electoral campaign will kick off with the “takeover” of 70 cities in the country on July 4, in homage to the late president Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), who would have turned 70 on July 28, according to an announcement made on Monday by the head of the Chavista campaign, Jorge Rodriguez.

For its part, the main opposition bloc, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – which supports the candidacy of former ambassador Edmundo González Urrutia – announced on Sunday that it will start its electoral campaign in Caracas, where it will also celebrate the so-called ‘Takeover Caracas’ on the 25th, the date on which the period established for political propaganda ends.