The Esequibo is Ours. Photo: Parra/AFP.
By Alejandra Garcia – May 20, 2025
Venezuela is gearing up for a significant electoral event on Sunday, May 25, as 36 political organizations prepare to take part in the regional and parliamentary elections. A total of over 21 million citizens are expected to cast their votes, shaping the country’s political future at both local and national levels, in a defining political moment.
Both the Chavista and opposition forces have meticulously chosen their candidates and electoral strategies, aiming to redefine political correlations across Venezuela’s regions. While Chavismo views this election as an opportunity to strengthen political leadership and governance at various levels, opposition groups are focusing on political survival and reorganization, seeking to secure positions and restore their support bases.
This election is particularly crucial as its outcome will influence the structure and dynamics of Venezuela’s National Assembly, the most relevant space for parliamentary representation. Given the weight and importance of the positions at stake, the May 25 vote is regarded as a mega-election; one that will have lasting implications on governance and political alliances.
Guayana-Essequibo and the Electoral Mandate
For the very first time, and in alignment with the popular mandate, Venezuela will proceed with elections for governors, deputies, and legislative councils in the 159,542 km encircling the Essequibo territory. The historical significance of this region was underscored by ALBA-TCP Secretary General Jorge Arreaza, who highlighted in a recent interview that iconic Venezuelan figures, such as Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre, fought for this land.
“Venezuela listened to its people, who approved in a popular referendum the Essequibo as an inalienable territory of Venezuela,” Arreaza emphasized. “Today, Venezuela is fulfilling that mandate.”
Regarding the ongoing territorial dispute, the Executive Secretary of ALBA-TCP took care to reiterate the importance and relevance of the framework established by the 1966 Geneva Agreement. This accord establishes that both Venezuela and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (formerly under British rule) engage in dialogue to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution.
He criticized efforts to impose external control over the territory, arguing that historical Venezuelan land cannot be denied under the guise of resource appropriation. Arreaza further attributed these challenges to imperialist influence, suggesting that a network of corporations with strategic objectives are driving the dispute. It is the case of ExxonMobil Corporation, an oil and gas company belonging to the US empire, the country’s largest in its sector, that operates in the disputed territory with the complicity of the Guyanese government.
“Imperialism in the region is a network of energy and pharmaceutical corporations, among others,” Arreaza added. “They have their objectives. In the case of the Essequibo, ExxonMobil has a thirst for revenge, they want to generate a conflict and we will defend our territory.”
President Maduro: We Will Completely Recover Guayana Esequiba on May 25
How is Venezuela arriving to this electoral process?
The road to the defense of democracy in Venezuela remains complex for a country hard hit by attempts of foreign interference. Guyanese authorities are trying to prevent Venezuelan participation in the elections, despite Venezuela’s firm position that Guayana Esequiba is historically claimed as the 24th state of Venezuela while being de facto administered by Guyana. Guyana’s Interior Minister, Robeson Benn, issued a stark warning on Wednesday, declaring that any Guyanese citizen or resident who supports or votes in Venezuela’s planned elections in the disputed region would be arrested and face charges of treason. Meanwhile, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela is moving forward with the electoral procedures, and the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) is conducting dispatch and custody of electoral material throughout Venezuela.
Another reality that marks the context in which Venezuela is arriving to local elections is the prevailing economic uncertainty, exacerbated by intensified US imperial sanctions, unilateral coercive measures, the cancellation of oil licenses, and latest tariffs imposed on Venezuela. These factors have added complexity to the electoral process, influencing both political strategies and public sentiment.
Furthermore, the Venezuelan government has recently exposed new plans by extreme right-wing opposition forces to sabotage the May 25 elections. Officials have revealed a plan involving attacks on embassies, health centers, and electrical facilities, alongside targeted actions against government leaders.
Security forces have responded swiftly, reporting the capture of 38 individuals involved in the plot, including 17 foreign nationals, and seizing explosive materials. In response, the government has intensified security measures to ensure a smooth and transparent election. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has activated both popular and security intelligence mechanisms to safeguard the electoral process.
The outcome of the May 25 elections will be a defining moment for Venezuela, shaping governance structures and legislative dynamics while setting the country’s political and economic course for years to come. As opposing forces strive to consolidate their influence, this electoral process carries an even greater significance, not only in determining the nation’s trajectory, but also in safeguarding democracy amid ongoing challenges and threats. The importance of an independent Venezuela is not just significant for the country, but all of Latin America as well.
