Venezuelan artists are now seeking luck in a new state-run competition program. However, the competition is not about contracts or money – but about getting a song into President Nicolás Maduro's re-election campaign.
Against a backdrop of neon colors, flashing strobe lights, and an enthusiastic audience, 35 entries are competing in the program "Factor M" on state-run Venezuelan TV. In the end, six entries will be selected as Maduro's campaign songs for election day on July 28.
"M" stands for Maduro, and one of the competition participants sings that the president is "loyal and brave".
Competition participants have also appeared in Maduro's own election program on another state-run TV channel. Press freedom is strongly restricted in the country. TV channels are loyal to the regime, and over 400 daily newspapers and radio and TV stations have been forced to shut down operations over the past 20 years.
Maduro, who is campaigning to be re-elected for a third six-year term, has few opponents. Many rivals have been disqualified by institutions loyal to the government. His only opponent is relatively unknown diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced politician Maria Corina Machado since she was disqualified after winning a primary election with a large majority last year.
