Venezuelan Government Declares Electoral Victory Amid Opposition Boycott

Venezuela's electoral council, under Nicolás Maduro's control, announced a significant victory in elections boycotted by opposition leader María Corina Machado. Despite official claims of over 40% voter turnout, independent verification was absent as polling locations remained largely empty.

Venezuela's electoral council, dominated by loyalists to Nicolás Maduro, proclaimed a sweeping victory in regional and legislative elections held recently, although the opposition led by María Corina Machado largely boycotted the process. The results, broadcast on state-run television without independent verification, included claims of an over 40 percent voter turnout despite near-empty streets and polling stations across the nation.

Many Venezuelans interpreted this low turnout as implicit support for Machado, who had encouraged citizens to abstain from voting. Officially announcing the results, the electoral council's vice president, Carlos Quintero, stated that Maduro's allied parties captured over 80 percent of the votes for legislative positions, asserting that the government secured control over governors' seats in 22 out of 23 states. In stark contrast, the opposition maintained control only in Cojedes, a state in central Venezuela.

This announcement follows a presidential election less than a year prior, where Maduro also claimed victory despite evidence from the Carter Center indicating he had actually lost to his rival, Edmundo González. The independent observers labeled Maduro’s claims a “falsification,” highlighting ongoing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the country.

With the opposition now stripped of key positions, questions about the legitimacy of these recent elections and the future political landscape of Venezuela remain looming.