Venezuela Sets Presidential Election for July 28 Amid Opposition Ban

President Nicolás Maduro expected to seek re-election; controversy surrounds ban on opposition candidate María Corina Machado.

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.