Venezuelan Ruling Party Secures Majority in National Assembly Amidst Low Voter Turnout

CARACAS – Venezuela’s political landscape has shifted significantly following recent elections where the ruling party,led by Chavismo,secured a dominant position in the National Assembly. According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), the party obtained 253 out of 285 seats in the assembly. The opposition secured 29 seats, with the remaining three unassigned. This majority gives Chavismo the power to potentially convene a National Constituent Assembly to rewrite the constitution.

Along with their success in the National Assembly, Chavismo also claimed victory in the elections for governor in 23 of the country’s 24 states.

Though, the election’s legitimacy is being questioned, especially regarding voter turnout. The CNE reported that 43% of “active voters” participated, a figure that excludes millions of migrants who have left the country. Journalist Eugenio martínez, an expert in electoral matters, estimates the real participation rate to be around 25.63%, based on an electoral registry of 21.5 million voters and approximately 5.5 million votes cast.

Opposition leader Machado claims that over 85% of Venezuelans “disobeyed” the election, calling it a defeat for Chavismo.

Winners and Losers in Venezuelan Elections

Political scientist Leandro Rodríguez Linárez analyzed the results, identifying a clear loser and a winner.

“The great loser is the regimeas he had to make another election outside the law, of the Constitution, of democracy, hiding results. It simply gives a general number and does not refer to breakdown, as commanded by the law for the sake of transparency “he said.

“In addition, he used a false opposition to which the same regime designates … the regime is the great loser as The country remains exactly the same as before the electionsthe control of the national territory, of resources, of the geographical spaces already had them. Then, only the antidemocratic file, the violations of the law that perpetrates, has swells “, He added.

María Corina Machado, leaders of the opposition in Venezuela. (EFE).” decoding=”async” class=”lazy story-contents__image w-full o-cover” style=”–aspect-ratio:1920/1279″ width=”1920″ height=”1279″>

According to Rodríguez, the opposition block led by Machado, which advocated for abstention, emerged as the winner. He argues that Abstention in Venezuela is spontaneous.

“María corina joined the abstention in tune with the vast majority of Venezuelans who detest these types of electoral processes that are totally false. So, she is still in tune with the vast majority of the country “he explained.

“The leadership she drives was strengthened”, insisted.

The Role of the “False Opposition”

The opposition block that participated in the elections has accused The opposition led by Machado to “give away spaces of power” to the government of Maduro.

Rodríguez linárez refutes this claim.

“We already have the example of July 28, where the world was clearly demonstrated that the winner was Edmundo González … then, it is indeed clear that in Venezuela Chavismo never loses (even though it really loses), as they continue to retain all competencies, faculties and resources “, Rodriguez said to El Comercio.

He asserts that the election results do not reflect the will of the voters. “In this case, the few mayors who delivered to the opposition were a way of validating the pact, a kind of agreement between the parties “he said.

Rodríguez points to past instances where Chavismo has undermined the opposition, such as annulling the National Assembly in 2015 and metropolitan mayorships. He also recalls that Hugo Chávez bypassed a failed constitutional referendum in 2007 by implementing the same reforms through presidential decrees.

“Those background tell us that Chavism never gives spaces, that must be clear. Thus an opposition to participate in an electoral process, The elections end up being false. They do not correspond to the democratic game of the laws in the country. And lend to these types of events, as did what we popularly call the ‘Alacranes‘, which is the false opposition that supports the government, is to generate a democratic mirage that only helps the government to pretend democracy“, He stressed.

“In Venezuela the elections do not question, not even under threat, the possession of spaces of power, as who decides what yields and how the government is“He said.

Future of Venezuelan Elections

Looking ahead, rodríguez suggests that the regime may seek a constitutional reform to implement an electoral system similar to Cuba’s, which diminishes the role of direct popular vote.

“For a while Maduro has been between the sword and the wall in electoral matters, only this time an opposition driving came that gave the last process legality,” held.

He anticipates continued intimidation and restrictions on freedoms for the true opposition.

“Chavismo will strengthen what has been, a Castroism to the