CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government and opposition closed the official presidential campaign season Thursday with demonstrations that drew thousands of people to the streets of the capital.
The events three days before the highly anticipated election on Sunday encapsulated the massive disparities between the top contenders, including their resources.
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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government and opposition closed the official presidential campaign season Thursday with demonstrations that drew thousands of people to the streets of the capital.
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro attend his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wave Venezuelan flags and posters of national heroes as they arrive early for Maduro's closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro hold a poster of late former Venezuelan Presiden Hugo Chavez during an election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, right, and opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave during a closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
President Nicolas Maduro raises his arms during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Homes cover a hill in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024, days before the July 28 presidential election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of the opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez cheer during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave to supporters during their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Motorcyclists do tricks as they rally before riding to the closing campaign event of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who is seeking reelection in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves during a closing election campaign rally of presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves from atop a truck during the closing election campaign rally for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro features the president's name woven into his beard as he waits for the start of the president's closing campaign rally as he seeks reelection in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, left, and the opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave during a closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez cheer during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition supporters hold a Venezuelan flag as opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez attend their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez holds a baby over a highway overpass, waiting for him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to pass by during their closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to the crowd during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Opposition supporters hold a Venezuelan flag as opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez attend their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez holds a baby over a highway overpass, waiting for him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to pass by during their closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, center left, and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez raise their arms during their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
President Nicolas Maduro waves a Venezuelan flag during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
President Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking a third term, appeared before supporters on a massive stage set up on one of the city’s main roads and rallied attendees with musical intermissions and dances throughout his speech. He told the crowd, part of it transported to Caracas on state-owned buses, his opponents are promoters of violence and described himself as a man of peace.
“Who of the 10 candidates guarantees peace and stability?” Maduro asked the crowd. Yet it was he who in recent days spoke of a possible post-election “bloodbath.”
Meanwhile, former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia, who is representing the Unitary Platform coalition, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gathered far fewer supporters. González and Machado moved through the city standing atop a platform affixed to a truck until they reached a middle-class district of the capital.
Lack of funding and government repression against Machado and any service provider who may volunteer or enter a contract with the campaign has affected their ability to set up proper stages, including Thursday when their sound system was not powerful enough to allow all supporters to listen.
State television transmitted live the entirety of Maduro’s rally and ignored the opposition’s event.
Sunday's election is giving the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela its toughest electoral test in decades.
Maduro is as unpopular as ever among many voters, who blame him for the complex crisis that has affected them for more than 11 years. At the same time, after years of boycotting elections and party divisions, the main opposition parties have come together to support a single candidate, González.
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro carry posters of Maduro as they arrive early for Maduro's closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro attend his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wave Venezuelan flags and posters of national heroes as they arrive early for Maduro's closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro hold a poster of late former Venezuelan Presiden Hugo Chavez during an election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, right, and opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave during a closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
President Nicolas Maduro raises his arms during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Homes cover a hill in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024, days before the July 28 presidential election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of the opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez cheer during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave to supporters during their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Motorcyclists do tricks as they rally before riding to the closing campaign event of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who is seeking reelection in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves during a closing election campaign rally of presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves from atop a truck during the closing election campaign rally for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro features the president's name woven into his beard as he waits for the start of the president's closing campaign rally as he seeks reelection in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, left, and the opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wave during a closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of opposition's presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez cheer during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition supporters hold a Venezuelan flag as opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez attend their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez holds a baby over a highway overpass, waiting for him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to pass by during their closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to the crowd during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Opposition supporters hold a Venezuelan flag as opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez attend their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez holds a baby over a highway overpass, waiting for him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to pass by during their closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, center left, and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez raise their arms during their closing campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. The presidential election is set for July 28. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
President Nicolas Maduro waves a Venezuelan flag during his closing election campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election for a third term in the July 28 vote. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
