The Trouble With Venezuela’s Upcoming Presidential Election (in Photos)

Ashley Hackett
May 19, 2018
Life under Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime is likely to continue as Venezuela heads into a presidential election this Sunday.
A Venezuelan opposition activist is backdropped by a burning barricade during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on April 24th, 2017. Protesters rallied on Monday vowing to block Venezuela's main roads to raise pressure on Maduro after three weeks of deadly unrest that have left 21 people dead. Riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up one of the first rallies in eastern Caracas early Monday while other groups were gathering elsewhere, the opposition said.

Though Venezuela’s daily hunger crisis mounts and inflation continues to skyrocket, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is still expected to win re-election on Sunday, extending his five-year term.

Street protests against Maduro are common as people cry out against the lack of food, medicine, and money under the president’s authoritarian regime. The protests are often met by deadly force, and they seem to have done little to change life under Maduro.

Venezuela will hold presidential elections on Sunday, but they come with a catch: The most popular candidates among the opposition either have been barred from running or are jailed as political prisoners.

A man shows new 500-Bolivar-notes (74 cents) in Caracas on January 16th, 2017. A new family of currency will progressively come into circulation in the South American country that has the highest inflation rate in the world.
A man shows new 500-Bolivar-notes (74 cents) in Caracas on January 16th, 2017. A new family of currency will progressively come into circulation in the South American country that has the highest inflation rate in the world.

(Photo: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images)

A Venezuelan opposition activist is backdropped by a burning barricade during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on April 24th, 2017. Protesters rallied on Monday vowing to block Venezuela's main roads to raise pressure on Maduro after three weeks of deadly unrest that have left 21 people dead. Riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up one of the first rallies in eastern Caracas early Monday while other groups were gathering elsewhere, the opposition said.
A Venezuelan opposition activist is backdropped by a burning barricade during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on April 24th, 2017. Protesters rallied on Monday vowing to block Venezuela’s main roads to raise pressure on Maduro after three weeks of deadly unrest that have left 21 people dead. Riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up one of the first rallies in eastern Caracas early Monday while other groups were gathering elsewhere, the opposition said.

(Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman with a sign reading
A woman with a sign reading “There is no food” protests against new emergency powers decreed this week by President Nicolas Maduro in front of a line of policemen in Caracas on May 18th, 2016. 

(Photo: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images)

“No to the Maduro circus. The candidate Maduro promises to solve the problems that the President Maduro could not.” An opponent of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrates in front of the Organization of American States offices in Caracas on May 16th, 2018.

(Photo: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images)

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Henri Falcón speaks to supporters during the closing rally of his campaign ahead of the weekend's presidential election, in Barquisimeto, Lara state, Venezuela, on May 17th, 2018.
Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Henri Falcón speaks to supporters during the closing rally of his campaign ahead of the weekend’s presidential election, in Barquisimeto, Lara state, Venezuela, on May 17th, 2018.

(Photo: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images)

Venezuelan president and presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro during the closing rally of his campaign ahead of Sunday's election in Caracas on May 17th, 2018.
Venezuelan president and presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro during the closing rally of his campaign ahead of Sunday’s election in Caracas on May 17th, 2018. 

(Photo: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images)

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