The collection of 4.2 million signatures to activate a possible recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro was taking place on Wednesday in Venezuela, but the promoters of the process said that the limitations imposed by the electoral body —close to the government— made it difficult to achieve that goal. .
The rubrics had to be achieved in a period of 12 hours, which according to specialists and promoters seems unlikely due to the short time available and the limited number of calls. The collection day started early, but in the following hours there was little influx of people at the points installed to sign.
According to the Venezuelan Constitution, after half of the mandate period of the head of state, a minimum of 20% of those registered in the electoral roll can request the convening of a recall referendum. In 2022, Maduro celebrates three years in power of his current period —of six— which he reached after being re-elected in 2018 in questionable elections and without the participation of the opposition.
On one of the main avenues, east of Caracas, people walked early to work or study and were unaware that a signature collection center was operating nearby. In several there was more presence of the military guarding the points than voters.
Although in previous processes the signatures were stamped on forms, this time it has been automated through fingerprint capture machines. According to one of the members of the collection tables, who did not give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the press, the new mechanism for signing was a biosafety measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I knew about the process, but I didn’t know it was today (Wednesday). If I see where the dots are, I sign. But I have already participated in so many (previous events) that I don’t know if anything will be achieved today,” Gémini Pinto, a 55-year-old doctor, said in the morning as he walked past one of the collection points.
Nicmer Evans, a member of one of the groups requesting the recall, said in statements to the press the same day that the convocation of the electoral power was made “without doing any kind of tests or pilot technical expertise.” The group, which since morning has called not to sign, hopes to file an appeal for annulment of the process before the Venezuelan Supreme Court, an institution controlled by the ruling party. “They (the electoral entity) technically set up the apparatus to abort the recall and we tell them that the recall has not died,” Evans added at the entrance to a collection point in the center of the capital.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported in the morning that 100% of the reception centers were open. After an audit process, the institution is expected to announce on February 13 whether or not the number of signatures to activate the recall has been achieved.
“There is not much information about the process. I found the point (to sign). They put it uphill, but I think it can be done,” said Servio Quintero from one of the centers located in the popular neighborhood of Petare, a bastion of the ruling party.
On January 17, three organizations requested the recall and four days later the CNE published the schedule for collecting the 4.2 million signatures of the 20.9 million registered voters.
Perkins González, a 57-year-old retiree, said after signing that he only found out about the process during the day. “The way out is in the vote, we will try to make the recall, but I think there are many obstacles (by the CNE),” he considered.
In 2016, the opposition also tried to activate the recall for Maduro’s first term, but the process was suspended by the CNE following orders issued by various courts in the country.
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