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Venezuelan head of state Nicolás Maduro

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Marcelo Garcia / AFP

In Venezuela, the socialist ruling party has, as expected, nominated head of state Nicolás Maduro as its presidential candidate for the July election.

The 61-year-old was chosen as the candidate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) at thousands of party meetings across the country, said party deputy leader Diosdado Cabello at the PSUV congress on Saturday in the capital Caracas.

Maduro has ruled the South American country in an authoritarian manner since 2013.

He is seeking a third term.

The 61-year-old announced “a new victory.”

Maduro was expected to run again; he had no competition from his own ranks.

A victory for the left-wing nationalist in the presidential election is almost certain.

Candidates critical of the government excluded from the election

Observers do not expect a free and fair vote.

Recently, numerous opposition members were arrested and candidates critical of the government were excluded from the election.

A broad alliance has chosen María Corina Machado from the Vente Venezuela party as the opposition candidate.

However, because of alleged irregularities during her time as a member of parliament, she was banned from holding public office for 15 years.

Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, was re-elected in 2018, but the opposition described the vote as manipulated and did not recognize the result.

Dozens of countries including the US and EU countries also did not recognize the election results.

The then opposition speaker of parliament, Juan Guaidó, then declared himself interim president.

However, Maduro was able to remain in power with the support of the military.

Venezuela has been in a serious political and economic crisis for years.

The security forces are taking tough action against government opponents.

The economy of the once prosperous country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption and sanctions.

According to the UN, more than seven million people have left Venezuela in recent years because of poverty and violence.

jpa/AFP/dpa