Venezuela’s ruling coalition, the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP), led by President Nicolás Maduro, scored a decisive victory in the country’s general and regional elections held on Sunday, according to preliminary results released by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

The GPP secured a commanding 82.68% of the national vote, clinching a majority of seats in the National Assembly and winning 23 out of 24 state governorships. The announcement came during a press conference by CNE President Elvis Amoroso, who hailed the election process as “extremely transparent” and expressed gratitude to international observers.

“Venezuela has once again demonstrated the strength of its electoral system, which we believe is among the best in the world,” Amoroso said.

Voter turnout was recorded at 42.6%, reflecting a moderate level of participation amid calls for a boycott from prominent opposition figures. The Democratic Alliance, the main opposition bloc, garnered just 6.25% of the vote, followed by Alianza UNTC with 5.18% and Alianza Fuerza Vecinal with 2.57%.

According to official figures, the ruling alliance received 4,553,484 of the total 5,507,324 votes cast. Despite concerns raised by opposition parties and international rights groups regarding the fairness of the electoral process, the CNE maintained that the elections were conducted in a fair and orderly manner.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado had called for a nationwide boycott, arguing that the electoral system lacked transparency and did not guarantee free and fair competition. Her call appears to have had some impact, contributing to the reduced voter turnout and the opposition’s underperformance.

More than 21 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote in the elections, which determined the composition of the 285-seat National Assembly, 24 governorships, and 260 regional council seats for the 2026–2031 legislative term.

In a historic first, elections were also held in Venezuela’s disputed Esequibo region—an area rich in natural resources and claimed by both Venezuela and neighboring Guyana. Voters in Esequibo elected a governor, eight National Assembly representatives, and seven regional legislative council members. The move is likely to stir tensions with Guyana, which considers Esequibo to be an integral part of its territory.

With the GPP consolidating its political dominance across national and regional institutions, analysts predict a continued tightening of control by the Maduro administration, even as the country grapples with ongoing economic challenges and international sanctions. (ILKHA)