Venezuela's parliamentary elections: opposition party's quandary
In the aftermath of the contested presidential election held in July 2024, Venezuela prepares for elections on May 25, 2025, with the goal of electing 24 governors, 260 regional councilors, and 285 deputies to the National Assembly. According to polls, a mere 30% of the country's 21.4 million eligible voters are planning to participate.
For many like Ariadna Camacho, 26, the question of why vote persists, as she believes that her vote no longer holds significance. This sentiment is echoed by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who vehemently calls the upcoming elections a "farce" and a "trap" set by a government seeking democratic legitimacy. She urges for abstention, advocating that it no longer makes sense to vote following Maduro's questionable win in the 2024 presidential election.
Ariadna Camacho cast her ballot for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, a choice shared by the vast majority of Venezuelans according to the electoral count. However, the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, rejecting to provide detailed results and leading to widespread protests. The ensuing demonstrations were met with harsh repression, resulting in the arrest of over 2,000 protesters and several electoral observers. In August 2024, Edmundo Gonzalez went into exile, while Maria Corina Machado went into hiding, with resignation sweeping the nation.
Salaries and the return of inflation have become the primary topics of conversation, as politics takes a backseat in the minds of many Venezuelans. According to opposition figure Henrique Capriles, many citizens are unaware that elections are taking place this Sunday.
While the political landscape has shown ongoing tension, the ruling party prevails with a resounding victory in the upcoming elections. President Nicolás Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is expected to win about 82.68% of the vote for National Assembly lists and 23 out of 24 state governorships. Despite the opposition’s divided front, with some smaller groups participating in the elections while the main bloc advocates for boycott, the government continues to consolidate power using the electoral system and security apparatus to marginalize opposition.
The international community and domestic civil society have raised concerns about the fairness of the process and the ongoing human rights violations. The opposition's boycott reflects its inability to contest effectively within the current political framework and its strategy to undermine the government's legitimacy.
- Despite the ongoing discussions about inflation and general news focused on war-and-conflicts, politics remains a contentious issue in Venezuela as the upcoming elections are met with skepticism, with opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado advocating for abstention amidst allegations of electoral fraud and a lack of democratic legitimacy.
- The crime-and-justice sector in Venezuela also faces challenges as the international community and domestic civil society raise concerns about human rights violations, particularly in relation to the harsh repression of protests and the arbitrary arrests of protesters and electoral observers in the aftermath of previous elections.
