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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 39373, member: 636"] Venezuela's ruling party claimed a major victory during regional and parliamentary elections that most opposition groups refused to join. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela won governor races across 23 of the country's 24 states. Government candidates also secured 82.68 percent of the votes for the National Assembly seats. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called the elections fake and said voter turnout stayed under 15 percent. The electoral council reported 42.6 percent turnout despite empty polling stations observed throughout the day. Most opposition parties boycotted the vote after questioning last year's disputed presidential election results. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez fled to Spain after the government declared Nicolas Maduro the presidential winner without showing detailed vote counts. Machado remained inside Venezuela and pushed for the election boycott strategy. She argued that July's presidential results should be respected before holding new elections. A few opposition politicians still ran for office against the boycott calls. President Maduro celebrated what he called a victory for peace and stability across the nation. His party regained control of key states like Zulia and Barinas. More than 70 opposition supporters faced arrest before the elections for allegedly planning to disrupt voting. Venezuela also held symbolic elections for the disputed Essequibo territory that Guyana currently controls. Guyana's president condemned the move and promised to protect his country's territorial integrity. [/QUOTE]

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