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Former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado is leading the vote count in the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary by a huge margin and has claimed victory in the Sunday contest, with final results pending.
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The vote to choose a unity opposition candidate to face President Nicolas Maduro in his probable re-election bid next year came amid pledges by the United States to roll back sanctions relief if the government fails to lift bans preventing some opposition figures from holding office.
Machado was tallying 93% of the vote, with just over 26% of ballot boxes counted, the primary’s organizing commission said around midnight.
“From tonight we begin a great movement for a great national alliance for the transformation of Venezuela,” Machado said at her campaign headquarters.
“Today I received a mandate and I accept with Venezuelans the commitment of making that mandate matter.”
The count – delayed by a server blockage – was expected to resume later on Monday. It was unclear when the next results update would be given.
Machado’s nearest rival, former lawmaker Carlos Prosperi, had 4.75% of the vote.
Participation in the vote, organized without state help, was more than double what had been expected in some states. Venezuela has about 20 million eligible voters.
Polling places – including in private homes and on street corners – were meant to close at 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), but many remained opened hours later, so those waiting in long lines could vote or so additional ballots could be delivered.
Some of the estimated 3,000 polling locations nationwide had to be moved, according to human rights groups and voters, causing confusion.
Voters also faced transportation problems. Gasoline availability was limited in border states Tachira and Bolivar and public transport in the country’s interior was working…
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