Voters in Venezuela are going to the polls to choose lawmakers, governors, and other officials. The election comes at a time of increased political pressure and calls from the opposition to boycott the vote.
It is the first major election since last year’s presidential vote, which President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won. That result was widely disputed. Two days before this vote, authorities arrested several people, including a well-known opposition leader. Officials linked them to an alleged plot to disrupt the election.
Opposition warns against legitimising government
Opposition groups say voting will help Maduro strengthen his grip on power. They believe it gives credibility to a government accused of silencing critics. After the July presidential election, authorities detained over 2,000 people. The group included protesters, political activists, poll workers, and even minors.
Despite the boycott, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) expects a strong result. It has claimed similar victories in past regional elections, regardless of opposition turnout.
A recent poll by Venezuelan research firm Delphos shows limited interest in the vote. Just 15.9% of respondents said they were very likely to take part. Of those, over 74% backed candidates from the PSUV and its allies. Only 13.8% supported candidates linked to opposition leaders who rejected the boycott.
Exiled opposition figures speak out
Some opposition members criticised their peers for taking part. Humberto Villalobos, a political strategist, said: “We are facing one of the harshest crackdowns in years. This vote is a farce.”
Villalobos once led the election team for María Corina Machado. In March 2024, he and five others took refuge at a diplomatic compound in Caracas to avoid arrest. They stayed there for over a year. Earlier this month, Villalobos and four others left Venezuela and arrived in the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called their departure a rescue mission. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello disagreed. He said it came through negotiations with the government.
Election unlikely to change power balance
The National Electoral Council, which supports the ruling party, is managing the vote. Voters will choose state legislators, 285 National Assembly members, and 24 governors. One of the new positions is for a governor to oversee Essequibo, a disputed region also claimed by Guyana.
Analysts say the election result is unlikely to shift real power. The central government in Caracas controls most institutions. Even when opposition candidates win, the government can strip them of power. It has removed elected officials or replaced them with loyalists in the past.
In 2015, the opposition gained control of the National Assembly. In response, the government created a new Constituent Assembly in 2017. It claimed power over all branches of government until it dissolved in 2020.
