(21 Nov 2021) Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro voted in regional elections Sunday as millions of voters put the country's electoral system to the test.
Maduro told reporters that the election would result in better political dialogue and democratic governance.
He described the voting as a "victory for Venezuela".
The contest was being observed by more than 130 international monitors, mostly from the European Union, satisfying a longstanding demand of the opponents of Maduro.
It is the first time in four years the main opposition parties are participating in an election, a decision that came amid now-suspended negotiations between the ruling party and its adversaries.
More than 21 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote in over 3,000 contests, including for 23 governors and 335 mayoral positions.
What's at stake is the legitimacy of the National Electoral Council, which has often been accused of setting conditions favorable to Maduro's allies.
In recent years, they have disqualified parties and some of the most popular opposition candidates.
The international observers have been deployed across Venezuela and are expected to release a preliminary report early next week.
It is the first time in 15 years that EU observers have been deployed in the country.
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