Venezuela's High-Stakes Election: Maduro's Warning of Unrest Amidst Campaign Tensions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces a significant challenge in the upcoming presidential election against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Maduro trails by almost 40 points, with the opposition Unitary Platform coalition aiming to unseat him and improve relations with the West.

The country's economic crisis, worsened by US sanctions, has led to a mass exodus of over 7.7 million people since 2014. Maduro's warnings of a potential 'civil war' or 'bloodbath' if he loses raise concerns about a peaceful transfer of power.

Additionally, a recent NGO report highlights 135 arrests linked to opposition campaign activities since January, with ongoing tensions between the incumbent and the opposition intensifying as the election nears.