The Maduro regime declares itself the winner of the regional elections in Venezuela with a high abstention of almost 60%

Nicolás Maduro's regime declared itself the winner on Monday with a wide margin in Sunday's local and regional elections in Venezuela, elections marked by high abstention.

He prevailed in 20 of the 23 governorates

that were at stake and is emerging as the winner in the race for mayor of Caracas, according to data from the National Electoral Council with 90% scrutinized.

The opposition, for its part, will lead the states of Cojedes, the insular Nueva Esparta and Zulia, an important oil region.

A man casts his vote during regional elections at a polling station in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday, November 21, 2021. Ariana Cubillos / AP

These elections represent the

to the polls after promoting abstention since 2017 as a sign of protest against the lack of political freedom and real democracy in Venezuela.

They were views as well as the opportunity to show that you have social support.

"It is time to

to recover our democracy and promote a national salvation agreement that solves the crisis," defended opposition leader Juan Guaidó on Twitter hours before the electoral headquarters were opened.

However, the opposition arrived at the electoral appointment damaged by

, after the failed attempts in recent years to evict the heirs of former President Hugo Chávez from power.

The division of opinions to achieve this goal, from using force to promoting change through the ballot box, also caused deep cracks within the opposition parties.

In the end, only 42% of registered voters went to the polls, that is to say a little more than 8.1 million people of the 21 million in the census, despite the fact that polls reveal that the majority of Venezuelans want a change of political course .

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Nor have international pressures succeeded in destabilizing the Maduro regime, or decimating the support of the Armed Forces.

Venezuela faced these elections in a delicate economic situation due to the decisions made by Maduro, aggravated by the sanctions imposed by the international community and the financial situation derived from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rampant hyperinflation and the devaluation of the bolivar have put millions of families on the ropes, without Maduro having found policies that would manage to stop the economic drain and improve the quality of life of citizens.

With information from