Campaigning for the presidential contest is in full swing, despite the boycott by the main opposition groups. The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE) is on a tour of sympathetic countries, including Russia, to drum up support for the election, which the United States, Spain, Argentina and Canada have said they will not recognise. The tightening of US pressure presents no immediate political exit solution and it is strengthening President Nicolas Maduro’s support base to the detriment of his main rival, Henri Falcon.
Falcon will struggle against the hard-line approach of both the United States and much of the Venezuelan opposition.
A surprise Falcon win would complicate diplomacy for countries that have already rejected the election results.
An election boycott and subsequent increased sanctions will not help to alleviate the disastrous domestic crisis.
