“The results should be respected by all Venezuelans and we must prepare for a new era,” Maduro said after results were announced shortly after midnight. He called for dialogue with elected opposition governors and mayors. “We have to continue learning from the people, correcting our mistakes.” Maduro secured victories in three key states --Miranda, Carabobo and Lara-- plus the capital of Caracas. Results for the more than 3,000 races for mayors and municipal offices have yet to be announced. His opponents, running candidates after boycot

 

Maduro’s Party Dominates in Venezuela Regional Elections

By 

Andreina Itriago Acosta

, 

Nicolle Yapur

, and 

Fabiola Zerpa

22. November 2021, 01:20 MEZ Updated on 22. November 2021, 17:34 MEZ

•  
  Socialist Party candidates winning in 20 of 23 governors races
•  
  Regional elections draw just 41.8% voter participation

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Venezuela’s ruling socialist party appeared to win all but three races for governor in regional elections Sunday marked by low turnout amid splits within the U.S.-backed opposition and voter apathy following seven years of economic recession.

Government candidates led 20 of 23 states, according to results announced by the National Electoral Council with more than 90% of votes in, though the margin in three of those states was still close. The widely expected victory for authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro’s party, the PSUV, strengthens his control as he tries to rebuild the country’s standing internationally. 

“The results should be respected by all Venezuelans and we must prepare for a new era,” Maduro said after results were announced shortly after midnight. He called for dialogue with elected opposition governors and mayors. “We have to continue learning from the people, correcting our mistakes.”

Maduro secured victories in three key states --Miranda, Carabobo and Lara-- plus the capital of Caracas. Results for the more than 3,000 races for mayors and municipal offices have yet to be announced. 

His opponents, running candidates after boycotting recent elections, captured at least three governor seats, Cojedes, Nueva Esparta, and Zulia. the most-populated state. Votes were still being tabulated in Tachira, Apure and Barinas. The opposition won five states in 2017, the last time they competed. 

The surprise win in Cojedes, a food-producing state in Venezuela’s western plains, marks the first time that Chavismo has lost the stronghold in 20 years. Luis Salamanca, political scientist at Universidad Central de Venezuela and former rector at the electoral council, attributed it to the opposition unifying to support a single candidate. 

Elsewhere, fractures in the opposition contributed to losses, such as in Miranda and Lara. The results laid bare how the opposition lacks a single figure lead, he said. 

“The opposition leadership is perishable and now we are seeing a new situation in the search for new leadership, but it is very weak,” Salamanca said. 

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