The candidates for governor in Miranda, Juan Requesens, and in Falcón, Lustay Franco, at a press conference on May 15, 2025. Photo: Contrapunto / Theodoraskis Morales Flores.
Guacamaya, May 15, 2025. The candidates Juan Requesens (Miranda) and Lustay Franco (Falcón), representing the Unión y Cambio (UNICA) platform, reiterated this Wednesday their call for citizens to actively participate in the elections on May 25. In a joint press conference, their statements came as a direct response to the call for abstention made the previous night by María Corina Machado through her social media.
Requesens described Machado’s strategy as “misguided,” asserting that abstaining is not the way to defend the popular will, especially after the events of the 2024 presidential elections. “We do not trust the CNE (National Electoral Council), but we must move forward and offer options to Venezuelans. We must fight for every millimeter they allow us,” said the Miranda candidate.
The former deputy and political prisoner, Requesens, insisted that the struggle goes beyond political positions: “May 25 is much more than an election. We are more than candidates; we are here for the gathering of everyone, whether they vote or not.”
For his part, Lustay Franco maintained that the abstentionist narrative circulating on social media does not reflect the sentiment of the people on the streets. “What we find during our tours is a desire to participate; people want to vote,” Franco stated, emphasizing that May 25 represents “a political event of great significance,” beyond just an electoral day.
The Falcón gubernatorial candidate stressed that, despite criticism and polarization, the decision to participate responds to a commitment to the country. “We are doing the right thing, even if the moment is complex and the intensity of criticism is harsh,” she said.
Both candidates agreed that, despite the obstacles, participation is the best way to confront anti-democratic practices. “We defend what we have been defending for seven months. Faced with this political event, to protect the governorships and confront what is coming, the best thing is to vote,” Requesens declared.
Response to the Call for Abstention
The press conference followed a message from María Corina Machado on her social media, urging abstention due to the lack of conditions stemming from events associated with the 2024 presidential elections. The opposition argues that the official results did not reflect the popular will and that the process took place in an environment of restricted guarantees and multiple violations of electoral law.
Both candidates acknowledged the adverse conditions and irregularities that have marked the electoral process. However, Requesens recalled that similar strategies in the past have only weakened opposition representation. Additionally, he mentioned that in 2015, the division of the opposition ticket cost them three seats in the National Assembly, a responsibility he attributed to Machado.
Obstacles and Complaints in the Electoral Process
The Venezuelan electoral process has been marked by a series of irregularities that have raised questions about the conditions. Among the main complaints is the removal of the QR code from the vote tally sheets. “What is required now is to scan the entire tally sheet. The government seeks to encourage abstention with these maneuvers,” Requesens responded regarding this issue.
The legality of double nominations and the unconstitutional increase in legislative seats has also been questioned, measures seen by the opposition as attempts to manipulate representation. Furthermore, both the requirement to sign a prior recognition agreement with the electoral body and the complaint about the selective enabling of candidacies have increased distrust in the process.
