Maduro Sweeps Venezuelan Regional Vote Marked by Low Turnout
BloombergMAY 12
Venezuela's Government Wins Polls Amid Opposition Boycott
Above: Nicolás Maduro waves to supporters as he celebrates the results of the parliamentary and regional elections at the Bolívar Square in Caracas on May 25, 2025. Image copyright: Federico Parra/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
This is a resounding victory for Venezuelan democracy and the Bolivarian project. The people rejected violence and far-right extremism, embraced peace and sovereignty, and gave a clear mandate for the government's continued social progress and national independence agenda as they voted in the world's most transparent electoral system.
Government-critical narrative
Massive abstention rates expose this election as nothing more than an elaborate farce designed to legitimize Maduro's stolen presidency from July 2024. Empty polling stations and the pre-election arrest of opposition figures highlight that the regime is desperate to crack down on dissent. Any opposition victories only occurred because the regime needed token representation to pursue international credibility.