Maduro's ruling coalition claims victory in Venezuela’s general and regional elections

BOGOTA / ISTANBUL

The ruling coalition led by President Nicolas Maduro, known as the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP), emerged as the winner in Venezuela’s general and regional elections held Sunday.

According to preliminary results released by the National Electoral Council (CNE), the GPP secured 82.68% of the vote.

The coalition claimed a majority of seats in the National Assembly and won governorships in 23 of the country’s 24 states.

The voter turnout stood at 42.6%, with the main opposition bloc the Democratic Alliance receiving 6.25% of the vote. Alianza UNTC followed with 5.18%, and Alianza Fuerza Vecinal garnered 2.57%.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Caracas, CNE President Elvis Amoroso announced that the ruling alliance received 4,553,484 of the 5,507,324 total votes cast.

Amoroso described the election process as "extremely transparent" and thanked international observers for their support.

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

According to local media reports, the Great Patriotic Pole achieved a sweeping victory both in the National Assembly and in gubernatorial races, while opposition parties failed to meet expectations.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had previously called for a boycott, urging supporters not to participate over concerns about electoral transparency.

More than 21 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots to elect 24 state governors, 285 members of the National Assembly, and 260 regional councilors for the 2026-2031 term.

For the first time in Venezuela’s history, elections were also held in the disputed, resource-rich Esequibo region -- claimed by both Venezuela and neighboring Guyana -- where voters chose a governor, eight National Assembly representatives, and seven regional legislative council members.