THE FAILED STRATEGY | By: César Pérez Vivas

By: Cesar Perez Vivas

We are now just a few days away from the date set for the presidential election. We are witnessing a totally atypical electoral campaign, a campaign deployed within a nation where the powers of the state have been converted into a campaign command, to perpetuate in power an incompetent and corrupt clique.

Never before in our democratic history have we participated in an electoral campaign where the state has deployed itself to persecute, criminalize and trample its competitor in the process. At this time there are already hundreds of victims of this repressive policy using the prosecutor’s office, courts, police, ministries, governorships, mayors, SENIAT, armed groups and other state entities. The use of state assets, money and resources to run the campaign of the candidate for the life presidency has not been enough; the use and abuse of the public media system and the control over the few private media has not been enough. Every day they abuse more in their attempt to perpetuate themselves in power. This picture of desperation that we are witnessing is the result of a failed strategy.

Maduro and his clique thought they would repeat the electoral scenario of 2018. During these years they dedicated themselves to creating the conditions to carry out an electoral process, in the midst of an artificial political ecosystem, where the true opposition would not participate and consequently with their plan of fragmentation, confiscation of the legal representation of the political forces, mimicry and control of the state, they would succeed in imposing themselves.

In fact, the sinister strategic plan designed in the laboratories of the regime was prepared to be applied with a pusillanimous “opposition” leadership compromised with the red leadership, which was made evident with the holding of the primary election process.

Maduro and his entourage had managed to confuse and divide democratic society in the 2020 regional elections. Two fundamental opposition blocs and other complementary ones participated in this process. In these blocs, authentically democratic actors were mixed with other collaborationists, especially the so-called Democratic Alliance made up of the directors of the parties designated by sentences of the TSJ, whose mission was to reinforce the division planned by the red leadership.

The call for primary elections was the beginning of the end of that strategy. Since that event was announced for 10/22/2023, the regime designed and executed various tactics to control the process. When it realized that it might not control it, it dedicated itself to imploding it. We overcame all those perverse tactics and the event became a success due to the massive citizen participation that chose María Corina Machado as the opposition candidate.

The dictatorship was wrong once more in its strategy. The country is already beginning to wake up from its lethargy. A series of actions are being promoted to block the candidacy of the new leader of democratic society. A grossly unconstitutional disqualification is being fabricated once morest her. A battery of physical and moral attacks are being launched once morest her political rights and personal integrity. A plan of imprisonment and harassment is being applied once morest the people who make up her national, regional and local political teams. In the dungeon of the Sebin are a dozen leaders headed by Henrry Alviarez and Dinora Figuera, whose crime has been to be part of María Corina Machado’s command.

At the same time, a campaign of terror is launched once morest anyone who offers services to the campaign or to opposition leaders. Businesses are closed, property is confiscated (platforms, vehicles, sound systems, boats, etc.) and people are run over for serving the cause of democracy.

This whole plan had one objective: to remove María Corina Machado and the true democratic opposition from the electoral field. To launch the majority of citizens down the path of abstention and frustration. As can be seen, at this point in the process, this did not happen. On the contrary, we clung to the electoral route as never before. María Corina, in a gesture that elevates her, worked with the other political factors on this electoral route. The candidacy of Dr. Corina Yoris was designated by consensus. The dictatorship arbitrarily, as is its natural way of proceeding, prevented her registration. They have never offered an explanation for their illegal behavior. After a tortuous process, the candidacy of ambassador Edmundo González Urrutia was registered, which finally received the support of María Corina and all the other sectors of democratic society.

The dictatorship once once more made a mistake in its strategy. They played at imploding democratic unity, but it has definitely united around its candidacy. María Corina’s leadership has been consolidated by her firmness and detachment, achieving a definitive growth in the candidacy of Edmundo González Urrutia. A certain and firm hope for change has been awakened. The weariness generated by 21st century socialism has found in the Machado-González duo a reliable and credible alternative to offer the confidence of the great majority of citizens.

The strategy of the red clique has failed completely. This explains the level of desperation in which they find themselves. In these final days they will continue to launch crazy and dangerous attacks. God willing, good sense will finally prevail within this red leadership, and they will not be led by the sectors that advise seizing power by means of fraud in the final phase.

It is in everyone’s interest, including the leaders of the clique, to accept the decision of the majority of citizens who have peacefully decided, by means of voting, to change the direction of the nation’s destiny. A historic cycle is coming to an end. It is up to all good citizens to promote a new stage based on democracy, freedom, morality, work and the development of our entire country.

Caracas July 15, 2024