
In the week prior to Venezuela's elections, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Omar Paganini insisted that it is time to defend democracy in that country so that the people can freely choose their government. He also called for the process to be held in peace and hoped that the votes would be counted with transparency. After that, he wished the outcome would be accepted by all those involved.

Seven days before the general elections in which President Nicolás Maduro seeks another term in office, Agência Brasil reported that polls would be unable to forecast a clear winner. While many regard opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the favorite, other surveys find Maduro ahead.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed alarm at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's recent remarks suggesting potential violence if he loses the upcoming election. Speaking in an interview with international news agencies, Lula condemned Maduro’s statements, which included threats of a “bloodbath” and “civil war,” as dangerous and unacceptable.

Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Paraguay Friday signed a declaration expressing these countries' concern over the mounting “harassment and persecution” the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolás Maduro is exerting on opposition leaders ahead of the July 28 elections which most pollsters foresee he is bound to lose.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro foresaw a bloodbath in his country if he fails to be reelected on July 28. According to the most recent surveys, he would be trailing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia by more than 10 percentage points.

Venezuela's disenfranchised opposition leader María Corina Machado, who endorses Edmundo González Urrutia's candidacy for the July 28 elections, said early Wednesday that the Nicolás Maduro regime had abducted her security team chief Milcíades Ávila and his whereabouts were unknown.
![A patriotic sign in Guyana advertises the region of Essequibo as the country's own [Nazima Raghubir/Al Jazeera]](/data/cache/noticias/100522/260x165/essequibo.jpg)
The delivery to Brazil of Israeli-built missiles has been linked to fears that the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region might escalate in the wake of the fudgy July 28 elections. With the most prominent opposition politicians disenfranchised, Caracas might fuel an international conflict to cover up for the domestic unrest expected to unfold, it was hinted.

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez Tuesday suffered an accident in Cumanacoa in the State of Sucre while assisting victims of Hurricane Beryl, President Nicolás Maduro confirmed. The official was hit by a falling tree amid heavy rains and subsequently hospitalized. Other members of her entourage were also injured. She was badly beaten, Maduro said.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Monday that he would be seeking to resume talks with the United States this week while his government referred to the European Union as one of the most inefficient organizations in the world less than a month ahead of local elections whereby the head of state intends to secure another term in office amid disenfranchised opposition leaders.

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the opposition was plotting to demolish the Angostura Bridge, over the Orinoco River, linking the States of Bolívar and Anzoátegui, and other acts of sabotage since they do not want any elections because they already know they have been defeated. She added: ”We have detected and unveiled a serious plan to demolish (...) the first bridge over the Orinoco River, the Angostura Bridge.” The Venezuelan regime also accused the opposition of wanting to carry out a coup d'état.