The government of Nicolás Maduro has picked July 28 as the date for the next presidential election.
With the popular opposition candidate María Corina Machado banned from running because of financial impropriety charges that she says are bogus, late July leaves precious little time for Maduro’s opponents to coalesce around an alternative challenger.
That, of course, may be precisely the point.
That leaves two big questions: First, will the US judge that this move violates the “free and fair elections in exchange for sanctions relief” deal struck between Caracas and Washington last year? If so, the Biden administration will have to slap tough sanctions back onto the energy sector in oil-rich Venezuela.
Second, is Maduro overplaying his hand? By squeezing the opposition so brazenly, he risks triggering big protests if the election is seen as a sham.
But five years after surviving street protests of hundreds of thousands (and a mass exodus of millions more) over unfair elections, Maduro is betting that this time around most of those who would challenge him are already either politically exhausted or permanently exiled. Vamos a ver.
Ian Bremmer reacts to breaking news from Venezuela: Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured in a US special forces operation and removed from power.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the military parade of the Syrian army in Umayyad Square in central Damascus to mark the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime, on Dec. 8, 2025.
A year ago this month, Syria’s brutal dictatorship collapsed. There are signs of recovery, but sectarian violence threatens to undermine the optimism.
Mastercard Economic Institute's Outlook 2026 explores the forces redefining global business. Tariffs, technology, and transformation define an adaptive economy for the year ahead. Expect moderate growth amid easing inflation, evolving fiscal policies, and rapid AI adoption, driving productivity. Digital transformation for SMEs and shifts in trade and consumer behavior will shape strategies worldwide. Stay ahead with insights to help navigate complexity and seize emerging opportunities. Learn more here.