Venezuelans Vote in Election Expected to Keep Maduro in Power

Corruption is Everywhere - Definitely in Venezuelan politics

By Sam Howard (UPI) 

Venezuelans will vote Sunday in an election that's drawn ire from the international community.

President Nicolas Maduro, of the ruling United Socialist Party, is expected to secure his second six-year term in an election that was pushed back from late April to give his opposition more time to campaign. But the main opposition coalition has discouraged its supporters from casting ballots and Bloomberg reported the United Nations won't certify the election and the United States won't recognize its winner.

The election Sunday is "not legitimate," U.S. Secretary of State Heather Nauert said Sunday on Twitter. "The United States stands with democratic nations around the world in support of the Venezuelan people and their sovereign right to elect their representatives through free and fair elections."

Candidates running against Maduro include former state governor Henri Falcon and pastor Javier Bertucci.

Venezuela, which is already struggling under hyper-inflation and food shortages, could be hit by more sanctions following Maduro's expected victory, VOA News reported. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned four Venezuelans and three South Florida companies with ties to Venezuela.

The list included José David Cabello Rondón, who leads the country's tax administration and his brother, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who is the first-vice president of the United Socialist Party. A Treasury Department release said he is "referred to as the second most powerful man in Venezuela -- after Maduro."

It said Diosdado Cabello Rondón has abused his government positions "in furtherance of his illicit and corrupt activities to control and direct government agencies and military officials in Venezuela."

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley called for Maduro to resign earlier this month, according to a McClatchy D.C. report.

"For the safety and the security of all people in Latin America, it is time for Maduro to go," Haley said.