Venezuela is set to hold parliamentary and regional elections on May 25, 2025, following a postponement from the original date of April 27. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced the rescheduling on February 19, 2025, citing requests from various political actors aiming to encourage greater voter participation.

These elections will involve the selection of 285 deputies to the National Assembly, governors for the 23 states and Caracas, and legislators for state legislative councils. Additionally, a governor for the disputed region of Guayana Esequiba is slated to be elected.

The Venezuelan opposition is deeply divided over participation in these elections. Prominent leader María Corina Machado has called for a boycott, alleging fraud in the previous presidential election on July 28, 2024, where the opposition claims Edmundo González Urrutia won. The CNE has yet to release detailed results from that election, fueling ongoing disputes over the legitimacy of the process, particularly as Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner.

In contrast, Henrique Capriles, a former governor and opposition leader, advocates for participation, arguing that abstention only facilitates Maduro’s hold on power. Capriles emphasizes that voting is a form of resistance and action, despite the challenging political environment.

This division has led to significant fractures within the opposition. The Plataforma Unitaria Democrática expelled parties like Un Nuevo Tiempo and Movimiento Por Venezuela for deciding to participate in the elections, viewing it as a betrayal of the popular mandate from the 2024 presidential elections. Additionally, Primero Justicia experienced internal splits, with Capriles and others forming a new bloc, Unidad y Cambio (Única), to contest the upcoming elections.

A contentious aspect of the upcoming elections is the inclusion of the disputed Essequibo region, claimed by both Venezuela and neighboring Guyana. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Venezuela to halt its plans to hold elections in this resource-rich area, arguing that such actions violate an earlier court mandate. Despite the ruling, Venezuela has rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction and plans to proceed with the elections as scheduled.

The Essequibo region represents two-thirds of Guyana and is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, timber, and oil, with offshore production currently averaging 650,000 barrels per day. The territorial dispute dates back to an 1899 international tribunal ruling, which Guyana submitted to the ICJ in 2018 for enforcement. Tensions escalated in 2023 when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro held a referendum proposing to annex the region, prompting emergency diplomatic efforts by Caribbean leaders, Brazil, and the U.N. Despite agreements to avoid force, friction has persisted, including a March incursion by a Venezuelan naval vessel in disputed waters, condemned by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali.

The ICJ’s ruling underscores the international legal complexities surrounding the Essequibo dispute. Guyana’s request to the ICJ to block Venezuela’s election plans in the region highlights the ongoing tensions and the potential for serious and irremediable prejudice to its rights. A final ICJ decision on the dispute could take years, leaving the region in a state of uncertainty.

The upcoming elections occur amid a complex political landscape, with internal divisions within the opposition and international legal challenges over territorial disputes. The opposition’s fragmentation may impact voter turnout and the overall legitimacy of the electoral process. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Essequibo region in the elections, despite international legal objections, could exacerbate diplomatic tensions and affect regional stability.

As Venezuela approaches the May 25 elections, the nation stands at a crossroads, grappling with internal political divisions and international legal challenges. The outcomes of these elections will not only shape the country's political landscape but also influence its standing on the global stage.