Sweeping victory for Venezuela's ruling party in elections boycotted by opposition

Published on 26/05/2025 - 13:50 GMT+2

Venezuela's ruling statement retained its important mostly successful Sunday's location and parliamentary elections, which were mostly boycotted by guidance groups protesting nan authorities of President Nicolás Maduro and his contested re-election past year. 

Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela won astir 83% of nan vote, according to nan National Electoral Council (CNE), which is wide seen arsenic loyal to nan ruling party.

They besides reportedly secured 23 of 24 authorities governorships. 

The governmental opposition, led by figurehead María Corina Machado, had urged voters to boycott nan election, calling it a "farce" designed to legitimise authoritarian rule. 

Maduro dismissed nan boycott. 

"What did they win? They mislaid everything," he said regarding erstwhile guidance boycotts.

"They - nan ones moving that run - are nothing, and Venezuela continues its course."

Electoral authorities reported a turnout of 42.66% among nan country's 21.4 cardinal registered voters, which would bespeak astir 9.12 cardinal ballots cast. 

Protests against Maduro

Just 2 days earlier nan vote, nan authorities arrested astatine slightest 70 group it claimed were progressive successful a crippled to obstruct nan election.

Among those arrested was erstwhile National Assembly Vice President and guidance leader, Juan Pablo Guanipa. 

This was nan first nationwide ballot pinch wide elector eligibility since Maduro declared triumph successful nan 2024 statesmanlike election, a consequence widely questioned by world observers and galore Venezuelans.

A nationwide canvass conducted betwixt 29 April-4 May by nan Venezuela-based patient Delphos recovered that only 15.9% of voters had expressed a beardown likelihood of participating successful nan location elections. 

Among those who said they would vote, 74.2% supported Maduro's statement and its allies, while conscionable 13.8% favoured 2 guidance candidates who chose not to boycott. 

More than 2,000 people, including protesters, predetermination workers, and governmental activists, person been arrested since Maduro's disputed re-election, according to quality authorities groups.