Opposition’s presidential primary in Venezuela underscores discontent. Machado emerges as leader

By REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans have shown their strong desire for an alternative to the decade-long, crisis-ridden presidency of Nicolás Maduro. On Sunday, they thronged voting centers set up for a primary election independently organized by the country’s opposition and showed an overwhelming support for longtime government critic María Corina Machado. Machado declared herself winner early Monday after the independent organizing commission released early returns showing her ahead with more than 90% of support. Maduro’s allies had ridiculed and dismissed the primary. State-owned television programming presented the contest as an “electoral farce” hours after initial results were made public.