Overview

• Venezuela has announced it will hold presidential elections on July 28, earlier than expected, with President Nicolás Maduro widely expected to seek re-election.
• María Corina Machado, a leading opposition candidate, remains banned from running for office due to alleged financial misconduct, a decision she contests.
• The election date announcement follows an agreement between the government and opposition, with international observers invited, despite concerns over fairness.
• The U.S. has shown interest in the election's outcome, having eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector following the agreement, but threatened to reinstate them if conditions aren't met.
• The election's timing and the ban on Machado have sparked criticism and concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.