Venezuela’s diplomatically-isolated president received a show of support from Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday ahead of a weekend election boycotted by the opposition coalition and decried by Washington.

The United States, the European Union and major Latin American countries have criticized Sunday’s vote in which leftist President Nicolas Maduro is likely to win re-election to a six-year term.

Critics say Maduro, a 55-year-old former bus driver who has presided over an economic meltdown, is virtually assured victory as two of his most popular opponents are banned from running and the electoral council is pro-government.

The Trump administration has threatened further sanctions and urged Latin America to cut off Venezuelan officials from financial systems and restrict their travel visas.

So foreign shows of support are particularly welcome as Maduro seeks to legitimize his likely re-election despite a brutal economic crisis that has Venezuelans skipping meals, succumbing to once controlled diseases, and emigrating en masse.

In a split screen chat broadcast live on Venezuelan state television on Thursday, Maduro and Erdogan held a stilted, translated conversation that had several technical problems.

“I wish you much success in the coming election, and a month later I think we’re going to have success in Turkey. One of my first tasks will be a state visit to Venezuela,” said Erdogan, in reference to Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.

“I have faith you will be triumphant,” Erdogan told Maduro, whose main rival is former state governor Henri Falcon who broken with an opposition boycott to run for the presidency.

Critics scoff that both Maduro and Erdogan are in fact authoritarian leaders who have snuffed out dissent and mishandled their economies.

“For the Venezuelan government, this election is not designed to look legitimate in front of the Western world, but rather in front of the illiberal world like Russia, China, Turkey and Qatar,” said opposition lawmaker and economist Angel Alvarado.

“Maduro will try to present himself, not as a democrat, but as a government that has popular support … to have a bit of legitimacy and receive financial help.”

China and Russia have lent Caracas billions of dollars and both have significant oil fields in Venezuela, home to the world’s biggest crude reserves.

Turkey has a much smaller presence, but Turkish Airlines started flying to Caracas in 2016 - one of a few major international carriers to still service the violent country - and Venezuela’s government has said Turkey would invest in its new “petro” cryptocurrency.

Maduro and Erdogan on Thursday also vowed more cooperation in oil, mining, gas, agriculture, technology, and industry.

Venezuelan opposition leaders say Maduro is selling assets on the cheap in an attempt to keep his cash-strapped government afloat despite a fifth straight year of recession and collapsing oil production.

Maduro says a right-wing, U.S.-led campaign is seeking to destabilize his administration financially in order to foment a coup and usher in a capitalist leadership.

“Venezuelans are going to give a lesson on democracy and liberty to the world on Sunday,” Maduro told Erdogan. [Read More]

—–
Source: VOA News: War and Conflict