‘Latest Sham Election’: US Criticizes Maduro Government for Holding Essequibo Election

The U.S. government criticized the Maduro government on May 25 for attempting to elect for the first time a governor for Essequibo, a disputed region claimed by Venezuela and controlled by neighboring Guyana.

“The United States rejects all attempts by Nicolas Maduro and his illegitimate regime to undermine Guyana’s territorial integrity, including this latest sham election in the Essequibo region,” the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs wrote on X on May 25.

This occurred one day before Guyana, a former British colony, celebrated the 59th anniversary of its independence, which the Trump administration commemorated through its embassy in the South American country.

“As we celebrate this milestone with all Guyanese, we look forward to continuing our strong partnership grounded in shared goals and values,” the embassy on X wrote on May 26.

Since the 19th century, Venezuela and Guyana have both claimed the Essequibo region, an area in western Guyana of about 160,000 square kilometers (61,800 square miles) located west of the Essequibo River, which the Caracas government has considered the state of Guayana Esequiba since 2024.

The Essequibo region has a wealth of natural resources, with fertile land suitable for rice, sugar, and other agricultural products; attractive tourist destinations; and significant mineral deposits, including gold, diamonds, and bauxite.

On May 25, the Venezuelan government organized elections within Venezuelan territory to elect 16 officials for the Essequibo region, including a governor, eight deputies to the National Assembly, and seven members of the regional legislative council, EFE reported.

In addition to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, some members of Congress described the May 25 elections in Venezuela as a “farce” and “a total failure” because of low voter turnout.

“The Venezuelan people spoke clearly: NO to the farce, NO to the dictatorship! May 25 was a total failure. Venezuela disobeyed with empty polling stations and silent streets,” Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) wrote on X.

“Maduro’s electoral show was useless—the world saw the firm rejection [of the election] by a brave people. All my support goes to the people and the iron lady,” referring to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro described the May 25 elections as his “30th electoral victory,” referring to the number of elections Venezuela has held during his term, noting that it was a “quick and easy electoral process,” he said on Instagram.

The vice president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, Carlos Quintero, said on the night of May 25 that voter turnout was 42.6 percent of the electorate.

In contrast, the opposition said there was low civic participation in the May 25 elections, with a 12.6 percent turnout and most polling stations empty, according to Corina Machado’s campaign.

“Today, more than 85% of Venezuelans disobeyed this regime and said no,” Corina Machado said on May 25 in a video posted on X.

Venezuelan opposition leader in exile Antonio Ledezma, on his personal blog on May 2, said: “The truth cannot be hidden: more than 86% of Venezuelan voters took part in a historic act of civil disobedience.

“They turned their backs on an illegitimate call to vote, organized to fabricate a result riddled with mathematical inconsistencies and logistical contradictions. The images of empty polling stations, silent streets, and a country that simply said ‘enough’ speak louder than any manipulated figures. Maduro does not win elections; he steals them. He does not call elections; he stages farces.”

The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify the results of the May 25 elections.