By Misión Verdad – Jul 28, 2025In the June 27 municipal elections, the Chavista forces achieved a resounding victory, consolidating an overwhelming majority in mayoral and municipal council positions across Venezuela’s 335 constituencies.This electoral process concludes an intense cycle of re-elections for executive and legislative officials at all levels, from national to local.The elections and their results present key elements for political analysis.TurnoutAccording to the first bulletin issued by Elvis Amoroso, president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), participation reached more than 44% of “active voters,” equivalent to 6,273,531 citizens who voted.The CNE has not defined “active voters.” Based on available data, it likely refers to voters eligible to vote domestically, since voting abroad was prohibited [in this type of elections], and a significant portion of the Permanent Electoral Registry (REP) resides outside Venezuela without formalized residence changes.These figures show nearly half of eligible voters participated, reflecting a moderate level of turnout, consistent with past municipal elections.Popular consultationParallel to elections, the Popular Consultation mechanism was implemented, a novel initiative submitting local development projects for citizen consideration.President of Venezuela’s National Assembly Jorge Rodríguez emphasized that because this consultation coincided with municipal elections, the Popular Consultation with the highest turnout to date.MayoraltiesAccording to President Nicolás Maduro’s statements issued from Miraflores Palace, Chavista forces won approximately 285 mayoralties, while the opposition obtained about 50 positions.Opposition forces previously controlled 123 municipalities. This represents a loss of over half their positions. Chavistas now govern 85% of Venezuela’s municipalities.This is the opposition’s worst municipal election performance in Venezuela’s history. Notably, in 2017, Chavistas won 309 municipalities; however, on that occasion, the opposition maintained broader territorial presence.Capital citiesHistorically, state capitals were key opposition strongholds. However, anti-Chavista coalitions’ collapse produced unprecedented adverse results.This time, Chavistas won all 23 state capital mayoralties plus Caracas’ Libertador Municipality mayoral office, reflecting significant national political transformation.The oppositions maintain some key bastionsDespite overall results, opposition forces retained control in some traditional anti-Chavista strongholds.In Miranda state, they held Chacao, Baruta, and El Hatillo, part of the historically opposition-run Metropolitan Axis in Greater Caracas. Meanwhile, Chavistas won Sucre Municipality, home to the populous Petare parish.The opposition also won mayoralties in strategic locations such as Anzoátegui’s Lechería and Carabobo’s San Diego.Abstention or organizational landslide of the opposition?Chavismo achieved over 70%—even near 80%—vote shares in numerous municipalities. These asymmetric results exceed typical electoral margins and suggest selective abstention among opposition sectors.Yet, in at least 50 municipalities, opposition forces executed effective propaganda, mobilization, and organizational strategies, proving that not all sectors heeded abstention calls.Results indicate that abstention and organizational collapse hypotheses are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Both conditions coexist: opposition voter absence in some territories and deteriorated organizational capacity elsewhere.This stems directly from opposition leaders’ strategic drift, marked by deficient unity, coherence, and political planning.The electorally catastrophic result reveals deep structural fractures, critical leadership gaps, and severe tactical coordination failures at local and national levels.Weaknesses of the political campaignAnother key factor explaining the opposition’s poor performance was weak electoral campaigns in many municipalities.Opposition parties lack cohesion. The once-unifying Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) has de facto dissolved. At least three opposition coalitions participated, plus significant independent candidates, further fracturing the anti-Chavista vote.Weak opposition candidates emerged that were backed by organizations with minimal popular support or mobilization capacity.These campaign proposals not only failed to attract voters but often demotivated them, deepening apathy and sentiments that an impending defeat was forthcoming.Strategic defeatThe Chavistas‘ victory is resounding quantitatively and qualitatively. The movement now ensures broad, deep governance across local public administration levels.For the opposition, this represents a strategic defeat that ranks among their worst results in recent political representation struggles.From an anti-Chavista perspective, the electoral landscape illustrates systemic, sustained collapse. This political failure will deepen discontent and further weaken ties between opposition supporters and leaders.Certain opposition forces are losing a long political cycle at state/municipal levels. They have squandered the groundwork laid in 2021–2025 and will lack representation until 2029. Eroded local leadership will structurally weaken opposition influence on national politics.Venezuela’s CNE Announces Results Amid High Participation in Municipal Elections, President Maduro Celebrates With the PeopleLocal realitiesMunicipal elections profoundly impact citizens’ daily lives, especially in interior states, which comprise the majority of Venezuela’s population.Voters often adopt pragmatism, preferring mayors with management skills, problem-solving effectiveness, and community connection.Many territories value coordination between municipal, regional, and national authorities for efficient governance.The victory of Chavistas in the June 27 elections largely stems from these municipal electorate particularities, which rejected ineffective opposition mayors.Numerous re-elected Chavista mayors reflect combined factors: electoral pragmatism, leadership approaches, policy continuity, and intergovernmental coordination.Together, these elements tipped the balance toward the Chavistas in most Venezuelan municipalities. (Misión Verdad)Translation: Orinoco TribuneOT/JRE/SL