Venezuela’s Operation Republic Ensures Security for the May 25 Elections
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez (C), May 21, 2025. Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: teleSUR
May 21, 2025 Hour: 12:28 pm
Defense Minister reviews troops ahead of legislative and regional elections.
On Wednesday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reviewed members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) who will take part in “Republic Plan,” a security operation designed to ensure peace and order during Sunday’s legislative and regional elections.
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“This plan is intended to guarantee a process that will strengthen participatory, leading, revolutionary and direct democracy from the grassroots of Popular Power,” he said during a ceremony at the Paseo de los Proceres in Caracas.
“The Venezuelan people can be confident in taking to the streets to their polling stations to exercise their political rights because their safety is fully guaranteed,” Padrino Lopez added.
Carlos Quintero, vice president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), said Venezuelans will head to the polls Sunday to elect 285 national legislators for the 2026–2031 term, 260 state lawmakers for regional councils, and 24 governors.
“Sunday’s elections will further reinforce Venezuelan sovereignty,” Quintero said, noting that citizens will also elect the first governor of Guayana Esequiba, a newly created state that will have eight national legislators and seven state lawmakers.
“This is the popular mandate expressed by Venezuelans in the consultative referendum held on Dec. 3, 2023. We are closing a cycle of sovereignty and elevating the institutional expression of the vote,” Quintero added.
The Bolivarian defense minister also confirmed that the FANB will make the necessary “strategic adjustments” to respond to “new international and national threats,” referring to the actions that the Venezuelan far-right opposition could attempt to sabotage the May 25 elections.
Padrino Lopez also referred to the border situation, recalling that “We have seen a deliberate act to provoke Venezuela and portray it before the international community as an oppressive state, given the existing plan to seize our Guayana Esequiba.”
Also present at the ceremony in Caracas were Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab; Ombudsman Alfredo Ruiz; Comptroller General Gustavo Vizcaino; and FANB Strategic Operational Commander Gen. Domingo Hernandez.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: VTV – FANB
