Chavismo demonstrated that it maintains control of the institutions and the rules of the game in the Venezuelan electoral process.
The opposition is facing obstacles to register candidates, such as the disqualification of María Corina Machado and problems registering her substitute, Corina Yoris.
Criticism of the registration procedure has been unanimous, including international concern over the lack of guarantees.
The candidate for the Platforma Unitaria is Edmundo González Urrutia, a provisional figure.
Maduro, who is behind Machado in polls, appears to be attempting to eliminate rivals that could threaten his victory.
There are key issues unresolved before the election, including the presence of independent observers.
Conclusion: The challenges faced by the opposition and the criticisms of the registration procedure point to a loss of legitimacy in the upcoming Venezuelan elections.