Venezuela Elections: Nicolas Maduro's United Socialist Party Ramps Up Organizing Efforts Ahead of Showdown With Edmundo Gonzalez

The Venezuela elections are less than two months away as Nicolas Maduro is slated to go head-to-head with little-known opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is in the lead against the dictator in various polls. This is as Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela is increasing its efforts to show its support for him.

On Sunday, the country's ruling party tested a voter organizing campaign that aimed to shore up the strongman's campaign for his third term in office and further extend the party's decades-long reign in the South American country that has seen its economy crash and thousands flee for a better life.

Verification phone calls were sent out on Sunday to local party organizers and voters who pledged their support. However, these organizers have yet to enter voter information into the database due to a lack of internet access. The Associated Press also noted a lack of experience with databases during party meetings across the country.

This is done so that the voters they registered would be able to vote on election day, with party leaders making sure that they do so "no matter what."

These efforts come as the fanatics of late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, known as Chavistas, are no longer the reliable voting force they used to be, with the once-fractured opposition now uniting under one banner to kick Maduro out of office.

"We are already approaching record numbers," Maduro claimed on Sunday evening, though he did not give any actual numbers to back his claims. "The level of organization that you have reached at this point is impressive."

Questions Raised on Whether Nicolas Maduro Give Up Power Should Edmundo Gonzalez Win

Under Maduro, Venezuela has experienced political repression and a massive humanitarian crisis. Many are now trying to leave Venezuela, with more expected to leave should the dictator maintain his grip on power. The question is whether he would actually leave if the elections were fair and he lost.

Questions are being raised whether Maduro will honor his possible defeat or not, with Edmundo Gonzalez also not offering an answer regarding the topic during a recent interview with CNN. However, he stated that amnesty for outgoing officials could be on the table.

"In all political transitions and political crises, you have amnesty agreements and transitional justice," he said in the interview. "All the countries who have gone through situations like ours have ended up granting it, so I don't rule out we could take a similar measure in Venezuela."

Venezuela Strikes Massive Gold Deal with Turkey

Meanwhile, as the opposition is pondering if Maduro would actually leave, the Venezuelan president himself has recently signed an agreement with Turkey to extract gold in the southern portion of Venezuela.

"Turkey's investment is intended to continue developing gold (in) the Mining Arc (of Orinoco)," said Maduro. "We are going to develop these gold fields, and I wish you the best of luck so that what we are signing... becomes an example of ecological development that is respectful of nature and very productive."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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