PRESIDENT Nicolas Maduro hailed a “victory for the humble people” of the country as his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) swept to victory in Sunday’s regional elections.

In an initial announcement by head of the National Electoral Council Pedro Calzadilla, the PSUV won the governorship in 20 out of Venezuela’s 23 states.

Though a 41.8 per cent turnout shows low levels of participation, it arrests a downward trend, being up from December 2020’s legislative elections which had a turnout of 30.5 per cent.

This time the United States-backed opposition United Democratic Table (Mud) performed poorly, winning Cojedes and Zulia states, while the Neighbours Force party took the governorship in Neuva Esparta.

It was the first time some major opposition parties had participated in elections for four years, ending a boycott they claimed was due to a lack of free, fair and transparent polls.

But they were unable to stop the success of Mr Maduro’s party, which has maintained strong levels of support in Venezuela in the face of increased US aggression, including sanctions and a number of failed coup attempts.

“It is a victory for the humble people, the noble people of Venezuela, who have endured a brutal war,” the Bolivarian leader said as the results were announced.

Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez said that she had voted “in defence of Venezuela, for peace, democracy and social happiness” as she cast her ballot on Sunday. “Our homeland will be successful in the face of imperial aggressions,” she said.

More than 300 observers from 55 countries monitored the poll, including a delegation from the European Union.

Despite reports that the election had run smoothly, Human Rights Watch representative for Venezuela Jose Miguel Vivanco made unsubstantiated claims that armed groups had launched attacks during polling.

Human Rights Watch has previously lobbied for sanctions against the Venezuelan government. Its director Kenneth Roth openly supported the 2019 Washington-backed coup in Bolivia, while a senior figure in the organisation described sanctions imposed on Nicaragua last year as “great news.”

Communist Party of Venezuela general secretary Oscar Figuera alleged that authorities in the Jesus Maria Semprun municipality of Zulia state had colluded to block voters, while police fired shots and tear gas at crowds.

In a statement, he condemned the “violent, illegal and vandalistic action” of mayor Keyrineth Fernandez and the local PSUV leadership, demanding the sacking of local National Electoral Council representative Ramilis Sanchez.