Chavismo allegedly won 82.6% of the vote and nearly all governorships, amid widespread abstention. María Corina Machado praised the population for ‘not heeding the regime’s call’

Venezuela’s ruling party swept regional and parliamentary elections in a landslide Sunday, tightening President Nicolás Maduro’s grip on power after a low-turnout vote marred by widespread opposition abstention and international criticism.

The party of President Nicolas Maduro has won 40 out of 50 seats, though the divided opposition has denounced irregularities in the vote count.