Maduro to run for re-election in 2018
Venezuela's Maduro keeps eye on prize: 2018 presidential vote
Andrew Cawthorne
CARACAS (Reuters) -
Just months ago, with crowds of protesters baying on the streets for the resignation of the “dictator” and “murderer,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro looked like a goner.
Global opinion hardened against his socialist government, with Washington the first to impose sanctions. Coup rumors spread amid one of the worst economic implosions in modern Latin American history, and there were two botched mini-uprisings.
Yet the unpopular successor to Hugo Chavez has not only survived, he is ending the year on a political high and is even a front-runner for the 2018 presidential election.
The upturn in Maduro’s fortunes began with a surprise victory in last month’s gubernatorial elections, thanks to abstentionism by disillusioned opposition supporters and election conditions stacked in favor of his Socialist Party.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-maduro/venezuelas-maduro-keeps-eye-on-prize-2018-presidential-vote-idUSKBN1DO0ER?il=0
A primer on Venezuelan elections.
1. Maduro stacked the Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) with Chavistas after the elections of December 2015 where Chavismo got its ass handed to it. (unConstitutional)
2. He then stacked the electoral body (CNE) responsible for fair elections with Chavistas (again unConstitutional) after Chavismos epic defeat in December, 2015.
3. He cancelled elections for governors. "couldn't afford it!"
4. He called for a Constituent Assembly to re-write the rules of the Constitution. No vote if he should do it... he just did it. His lackeys in the TSJ rubber stamped it. His CNE declared it valid... despite the Smartmatic company who supplied the voting machines called fraud. (Maduro fired them) It then became clear that voting was no longer going to be open and transparent.
5. Governor elections. Not free and open, as Maduro forbade any front running opposition candidate or party to be elected. No outside group to vouch for the elections. The Carter Center denounced it as a fraud.
6. Chavismo "ran the table" with elections, despite 20% favorability ratings. The one governor who didn't toe the line was not allowed to be seated, and a re-election ordered.
My guess, is that if Maduro is still in power, he will likely win 90% of the vote. He is just that popular with the 4000% inflation and all.
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