Election Shocker: Maduro’s Party Sweeps 23 States—And Declares a Governor in Guyana?
Global (Commonwealth Union) In a climactic move, Venezuela’s ruling party swept up what was described as an “unexpected victory” in their regional and parliamentary elections on Sunday, 25 May. Under the leadership of President Nicolás Maduro, the United Socialist Party secured victory in the governor’s race in 23 out of 24 states, as confirmed by the Electoral Council (CNE), which also reported that the coalition received 82.68% of the votes cast.
The elections came amidst several opposition groups calling for a ballot boycott in protest of last year’s presidential elections leading to the victory of President Maduro, claiming the elections to be a farce. The leader of the opposition party, Maria Corina Machado, who earlier this month posted a video encouraging voters to abstain, addressed the efforts to keep Venezuelan voters from casting ballots and stated that, “More than 85% of the voters did not obey this regime and said no.”
However, several opposition parties ran for Sunday’s ballot, including two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who secured a seat in the National Assembly; the state governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales; and Juan Requesens, a former lawmaker who was previously incarcerated by the Maduro government due to allegations of being involved in a drone attack targeting President Maduro in 2018.
The event also followed the arrest of approximately 70 individuals connected to the opposition, who were accused of being involved in election sabotage plots. The Canadian government acknowledged the Sunday election, criticizing the detainment and silencing of the opposition, with the Canadian Global Affairs Department calling for “an end to human rights abuses and the immediate release of all unjustly detained.”
The election also shed light on the newly established governorship allegedly intended to administer the Essequibo region, a territory claimed by Venezuela but has been controlled and managed by Guyana. The International Court of Justice, which mediated the territorial conflict submitted by Guyana, issued instructions on May 1 to Venezuela that no votes for representatives were to be held for the Essequibo region.
In an act of defiance by the Maduro government, polls were held to select a representative for the region, with votes being cast in a micro-district outside the Essequibo region due to the lack of polling stations inside the Guyana-administered territory. The election was eventually won by Maduro’s United Socialist Party candidate, Neil Villamizar, who reportedly received 4,720 votes, making him the first governor of Venezuela’s recently established 24th state.
However, despite the symbolic nature of the vote meaning that Venezuela has yet to obtain authority over the region, Villamizar firmly stated that the vote represents the recovery of the full sovereignty of Guayana Esequiba, in peace, with harmony, through diplomacy”.
