Venezuela’s ruling party on Sunday won the majority of mayoral seats in elections boycotted by the main opposition, coinciding with the anniversary of President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election last year.
The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 285 of 335 mayoralties, according to Maduro’s own projections, which he celebrated with supporters early yesterday in Caracas’ Bolivar Square.
“Victory, popular victory!” Maduro shouted. “Democracy and peace, the unity of the people, have triumphed.”
Photo: EPA
The country’s electoral authority, accused of loyalty to Maduro, put turnout at 44 percent.
That represents just more than 6 million voters, although polling stations in several cities showed low turnout throughout the day.
In one year, Maduro has won the presidency, absolute control of parliament, 23 of 24 governorships, and now municipal power.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidate lost to Maduro in the presidential election last year, said on X: “What happened between July 28, 2024, and today?”
“That day, 70 percent of the country voted for EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, and today, 90 percent said NO to MADURO,” referring to what she said was the abstention rate.
A dissident wing of Machado’s movement participated in the elections and, according to Maduro, won 50 mayoralties.
“The new opposition,” the president said, while the opposition leader branded them Maduro collaborators.
Maduro was planning to lead a demonstration yesterday to celebrate the anniversary of his victory, which the US and a dozen other countries did not recognize.
“Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X on Sunday, calling the president the leader of a “narco-terror” organization.
This month, Washington and Caracas negotiated a prisoner swap that saw the release of 10 Americans and US residents imprisoned in Venezuela for 252 Venezuelan migrants detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
SPEAKING OUT: After Siranudh Scott’s allegations surfaced, celebrities and public figures took to social media to share their own experiences of sexual misconduct and abuse A high-profile alleged sexual abuse case within a wealthy Thai beer brewing family has prompted a wave of painful accounts from survivors of unconnected abuse in the conservative nation. Siranudh Scott, a member of the billionaire Thai family that founded the ubiquitous Singha beer brand, posted an emotional video this month accusing his elder brother Sunit of repeatedly abusing him when he was a teenager. Sunit, who is in his 30s, later denied the allegations in a video posted online, but Singha parent Boonrawd dismissed him from his executive role with the company on Tuesday last week. “I felt I needed to speak
SEEKING ORDER: Rodrigo Paz said that ‘anyone who wants to destroy the nation will have to deal with this president and the full force of the constitution’ Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz on Wednesday said that the nation was at a “breaking point” after nearly a month of protests that have caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Paz, who took office six months ago amid the worst economic crisis there in four decades, is battling a groundswell of fury over his policies. The political capital, La Paz, has been besieged by low-income workers and members of the indigenous majority calling for his resignation. “The country needs order and is reaching breaking point,” the 58-year-old said at a public event in La Paz, renewing his appeal for dialogue. On Tuesday, the Bolivian
‘CROSSING THE LINE’: China’s embassy in Seoul criticized US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson, asking if his ‘hostile’ remarks were authorized by Washington South Korea and the US are in talks over recent public remarks by the commander of US Forces Korea, Seoul’s presidential office said yesterday, after the comments drew sharp criticism from China. In a recent podcast interview, US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson described South Korea as “the dagger in the heart of Asia” from China’s east coast, prompting the Chinese embassy in Seoul to say that he had “truly crossed the line.” The interview came amid growing speculation that Washington might seek to expand the role of US Forces Korea in countering the growing regional influence of China, a key
Forecasters in Europe yesterday warned of exceptional heat as record temperatures driven by a “heat dome” push temperatures well above seasonal norms across the continent. The surge follows a record-breaking Monday, with France logging its hottest day in the month of May on record, its weather agency said, and the UK also posting unprecedented highs. A so-called “heat dome” of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the high temperatures not usually seen until high summer. Restrictions on outdoor work were imposed in parts of Italy, beaches in southwest France filled earlier than usual and
RSS