Mon May 26 07:07:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s party decisively won parliamentary and regional elections, largely due to an opposition boycott protesting the legitimacy of his previous re-election. Despite low voter turnout, Maduro hailed the victory as proof of Chavismo’s strength. The elections, however, have been widely criticized as a farce, with allegations of voter suppression, mass arrests, and foreign interference. The victory also raises concerns about Venezuela’s claims to the oil-rich Essequibo region controlled by Guyana, further exacerbating the country’s economic woes compounded by US sanctions.
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**News Article:**

**Maduro’s Party Sweeps Boycotted Venezuelan Elections Amidst International Criticism**

*Caracas, Venezuela* – President Nicolas Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela claimed a resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary and regional elections, securing 23 out of 24 state governor positions and a dominant 82.68% of votes for National Assembly seats. The victory comes as the main opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, boycotted the elections, deeming them a “farce” and a legitimization of Maduro’s disputed re-election last year.

Voter turnout was low, with only 42% of eligible voters participating. Reports indicate that the lead-up to the election was marred by mass arrests of opposition members, including Juan Pablo Guanipa, accused of plotting to “sabotage” the vote.

Maduro hailed the results as a “victory of peace and stability,” and a testament to the power of Chavismo.

However, the international community has raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the elections. Machado described the election as a “grand farce” and urged the military to act against Maduro. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition candidate from last year’s presidential elections, also condemned the vote, stating it was a silent declaration of the desire for change.

Adding to the country’s woes, the US President Donald Trump has revoked Chevron’s license to pump Venezuelan oil, potentially deepening the economic crisis. Furthermore, Washington has revoked deportation protection for Venezuelan migrants and expelled many.

The election results also reignite tensions with neighboring Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region, which Venezuela claims. Maduro has reiterated threats to annex the region.

With the economy in shambles, a fractured opposition, and international scrutiny intensifying, Venezuela’s future remains uncertain.

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