Venezuela's Election: A Tale of Low Turnout and Political Divisions

Venezuela's recent elections saw a significant number of opposition parties choosing to boycott the polls. This decision was driven by their belief that the elections were orchestrated to favor the ruling party. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), led by President Nicolás Maduro, declared a landslide victory. The electoral council, largely seen as loyal to the government, reported that PSUV candidates won in 23 out of 24 states and secured 82. 68% of the votes for the National Assembly. The main opposition leaders, including María Corina Machado, called the elections a sham. They argued that the low voter turnout was a clear sign of public disapproval. Independent observers noted that polling stations were quiet, with far fewer people voting compared to the presidential election in July. The electoral council, however, reported a turnout of 42. 6%. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing dispute over the credibility of the electoral process. The opposition has long questioned the independence of the electoral council, led by Elvis Amoroso, a former advisor to President Maduro. Last year, the council faced international criticism for declaring Maduro the winner without providing detailed voting tallies. The opposition had gathered their own voting tallies, which showed their candidate, Edmundo González, as the clear winner. González went into exile after the election, while Machado remained in Venezuela, advocating for a boycott. A few opposition politicians chose to run in the elections, arguing that not participating would give the ruling party an easy win. Among them were Henrique Capriles, Manuel Rosales, and Juan Requesens. Capriles, who ran for president in the past, saw voting as an act of resistance. However, his decision was criticized by those pushing for a boycott, who saw it as a betrayal of the cause. The ruling party's victory was significant, winning 23 out of 24 gubernatorial races. The coalition backing Maduro also gained an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Three politicians from Capriles' opposition party were elected to the National Assembly, including Capriles himself. Maduro celebrated the results, calling it a victory for peace and stability. The ruling party regained control of key states, including Zulia and Barinas, the home state of Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Leading up to the elections, there was a wave of arrests, with over 70 people linked to the opposition detained. The government accused them of planning to sabotage the election. Among those arrested was Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close ally of María Corina Machado. Machado condemned the arrests, calling them an act of state terrorism. These events underscore the deep political divisions and tensions in Venezuela.