Venezuelans Prioritize Elections Over Earthquake Reconstruction, Poll Finds

Venezuelans are divided on whether to prioritize new elections or the reconstruction of their country following recent earthquakes, with a significant portion favoring an earlier return to the polls. A recent AtlasIntel survey for Bloomberg reveals that 45.7% of Venezuelans consider holding new elections more urgent than rebuilding after the June 24 earthquakes. Conversely, 32.6% believe reconstruction should take precedence, while 21.6% feel the seismic events do not impact the electoral schedule.

The demand for immediate elections is particularly strong among opposition supporters. Among those who voted for Edmundo González Urrutia in the last election, 62% see elections as more urgent. This contrasts sharply with Nicolás Maduro's voters, where only 18.4% share this view, and 45.4% of that group would prefer to postpone elections to focus on reconstruction efforts.

The government's handling of the earthquake crisis has drawn widespread criticism. A significant 65.4% of respondents disapprove of the authorities' response, with only 19.3% approving. When asked to rate the response, 52.4% described it as "very bad" and 8.3% as "bad," indicating that six out of ten surveyed view the government's actions negatively.

Trust in non-governmental and international actors is notably higher. Medical personnel and health workers (88%), firefighters (76%), and the private sector (73%) are among the most trusted national entities. Internationally, the U.S. government (75%) and Colombia's government (55%) garnered the highest confidence levels.

Official figures state that the earthquakes, which struck Venezuela on June 24, resulted in at least 2,645 deaths and 12,666 injuries. The report also indicates that 15,050 people lost their homes and 885 buildings were affected, with 189 collapsing. The government has not released figures for the missing, but the United Nations estimates there could be up to 50,000.