Venezuela holds elections on Sunday. Could real change be coming?

Venezuela is preparing for a significant election this Sunday, and many citizens are hopeful for real change in their country. One individual who has faced severe hardships is Emirlendris Benítez. She was arrested in August 2018 while giving a ride to someone and was wrongfully accused of plotting to kill the president. Without a fair trial, she was sentenced to a staggering 30 years in prison. During her time in prison, she endured horrific treatment, including being beaten by guards while pregnant, which led to her miscarriage. Her family reports that she has suffered torture, including having her nails removed with a hammer. According to the human rights organization Foro Penal, there have been over 15,700 politically motivated arrests in Venezuela from 2014 to 2023, with many individuals still imprisoned. This is just one of the many ways the government has suppressed dissent. The BBC reached out to the government and the prosecutor for comments or interviews but received no response. President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 after succeeding his mentor Hugo Chávez, is seeking re-election this Sunday. His image is plastered across the streets, and on the last day of campaigning, hundreds of buses were hired to transport supporters to his final rally in Caracas, where free food parcels were distributed to encourage attendance. One woman at the rally, Venus, expressed her support for Maduro, stating that his party has provided her with numerous benefits. Another supporter, Iván, declared, 'To those who oppose us, those who say there is no democracy, that there is a dictatorship here… this revolution will continue to shine. ' However, even some of Maduro's supporters have begun to feel the effects of the government's crackdown on dissent. A family member of Emirlendris, who wished to remain anonymous and is referred to as Ana, shared that her family had previously voted for Maduro and Chávez but has since changed their views. Ana stated, 'The government is desperate because it knows it has lost. Many people have opened their eyes and are realizing the reality we live in in Venezuela. In the name of Almighty God, I hope that a new president wins for a better Venezuela. ' The last election was widely criticized as neither free nor fair, with many countries refusing to recognize Maduro as president, and the United States imposing additional sanctions on Venezuela. For the first time in years, the opposition feels they have significant momentum and a lead in the polls, making it more challenging for the ruling party to claim victory. However, the government has employed various tactics, including using the armed forces and controlling electoral and judicial authorities, to suppress the opposition. These tactics include detaining critics, excluding EU election observers, and preventing millions of Venezuelans living abroad from registering to vote. Alcides Bracho, a teacher, was detained on July 4, 2022, after attending a protest demanding better salaries. He recalled, 'We are talking 800 days without an increase, and it is a salary of $3. 50 per month. ' Following the protest, he was arrested and accused of 'terrorism. ' He described the raid on his home, saying, 'They came to the house, approximately 22 people with long rifles. Guns that looked like those in action movies or boys’ video games. Without a search warrant. ' Bracho was forced to stand naked for 72 hours while in detention, with no access to food, water, or a toilet, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for 'conspiracy' and 'criminal association. ' He expressed his fear, saying, 'I thought I was going to die. ' Despite his traumatic experience, Bracho remains determined to continue fighting for change, stating, 'If we all keep quiet, if no one does it, there is no fighting. ' The situation in Venezuela is concerning, with an increase in repression. Volunteers for Bus TV are working to spread 'real news' across the country. The opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has been banned from running in the upcoming election, and many of her team members have been detained. Additionally, food stalls that served her have been shut down. Most television and radio stations are state-run, and many digital media outlets are blocked. Andrés Brancovic, a volunteer for Bus TV, believes that censorship could impact the election. He noted, 'Twitter is one of the most used apps in Venezuela right now because people can post what they want and see what is happening. But people who only have national TV in their homes don’t see what is happening with the opposition. ' He added, 'All the news is in favor of the regime. ' Despite having the world's largest known oil reserves, Venezuela is facing extreme poverty. More than half of the population lives in poverty, and nearly eight million people have fled the country, contributing to a migration crisis at the US border. Jhonatan Marcano, who lives with his family of five in a small room, goes fishing every day in a rubber tire, often risking dangerous tides to feed his family. He cannot afford a boat or fuel for one and relies on the tide to bring him back to shore each day. He expressed his disappointment, saying, 'I always voted for the people who are in charge. Chávez inspired confidence in me. Now, though, I am undecided: Help doesn’t come, what you need most does not come to you. I’m so disappointed in the party. ' President Maduro blames US sanctions for the country's problems, but critics attribute the issues to corruption and economic mismanagement. The West is interested in improving relations with Venezuela due to its oil and natural resources, as well as the fact that Iran, China, and Russia rely on Venezuela as an ally. However, it is unlikely that sanctions will be lifted or that the government will be recognized if the election is perceived as unfair again.