Venezuela's Polarized Elections: Claims of Victory Amid Opposition Boycott

Critics argue the reported electoral success by Maduro's regime lacks credibility, following a pattern of unverified claims and opposition calls for abstention.

Venezuela's electoral council, heavily influenced by President Nicolás Maduro, declared on Sunday that the ruling party has won substantial victories in the recent regional and legislative elections. The announcement was made public via state television, although no independent verification was provided to back their claims. According to officials, the elections stripped the opposition of several key positions, including the governorship of Zulia, which is known for being the country's most populous state and a hub for its oil production.

Despite this assertion of victory, many polling stations in Caracas and other cities remained nearly empty, leading to skepticism about the election's legitimacy. The electoral council reported voter turnout of over 40%, yet this figure is being challenged due to the absence of independent observers, and the results were not uploaded online as they had been in previous elections prior to 2024.

Some Venezuelans interpreted the low turnout as a reflection of loyalty to María Corina Machado, the nation's foremost opposition leader, who had actively encouraged citizens to abstain from participating in the election. This claim comes just months after a controversial presidential election where Maduro also proclaimed victory despite credible evidence indicating he had lost to rival Edmundo González, as confirmed by the Carter Center, an independent monitoring organization.

During the post-election announcement, Carlos Quintero, the electoral body's vice president, stated that an alliance of Maduro-supporting parties garnered upwards of 80% of the legislative vote. Moreover, the same alliance reportedly secured governors' seats in 22 of Venezuela's 23 states. Previously, four states were held by governors not affiliated with the government, leaving only one, Cojedes, in the hands of a dissenting party.