Guacamaya, April 4, 2025. Mayors from the opposition party Alianza del Lápiz called on former presidential candidate Antonio Ecarri to run for governor in Aragua, “to reclaim the region’s reputation.”
While Nicolás Maduro announced the ruling party’s candidates for the 24 governor races on Monday, the various opposition parties are yet to present names, or to decide whether they will run in an alliance.
In an event in Maracay, the state’s capital, the party’s two mayors in Aragua, Gonzalo Díaz and Andrés Aular, urged Ecarri together with party representatives, civil society activists, and teachers—the party has a strong focus on education.
Lápiz’s has its main support base in Aragua and Caracas. The mayors oversee the municipalities of Libertador, with the largest military airbase, and San Sebastián de los Reyes, a mining town.
The two mayors said that Ecarri “needed to launch a comprehensive regional, national, and global campaign to change Aragua’s negative image.” The region has become synonymous with the criminal group “Tren de Aragua.” The Trump administration has declared it a foreign terrorist organization, alongside Mexican drug cartels.
“Aragua is not a cartel. Aragua is its people,” said Mayor Aular. “We need leadership that can inspire inclusion, dialogue, and real solutions — not vengeance. That’s what Ecarri represents.”
All Aragua governors since 2008 have been members of Venezuela’s ruling party, the PSUV. Tareck El Aissami managed the state between 2012 and 2017, and he is now in prison for leading one of the largest corruption schemes in the country’s history. The Tren de Aragua also flourished under his administration, prompting many to associate El Aissami with the criminal group.
The group of mayors and civil society leaders argued that Ecarri’s candidacy could serve as a turning point for the region and even the country — not just politically, but socially and economically. “We are calling for a movement of hope. We want to stop the stigma that follows our people, especially abroad, and to replace it with opportunities, education, and development,” said Wladimir Rodríguez, regional leader of Alianza del Lápiz.
A teacher at the event drew parallels with Medellín in Colombia, which was once ravaged by drug trafficking and violent crime; it is now a thriving city. “If Medellín could change, Aragua can too.”
“This is not just about a regional election,” said Mayor Díaz. “This is about sending a clear message: we are ready to rebuild our homeland from the inside out.”
Ecarri did not confirm whether he will accept the nomination. A source in Lápiz said that there is a national consultation process inside the party underway.
