Mixed results in Venezuelan elections

Yesterday’s local elections proved to be a mixed bag for allies and opponents of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

As we mentioned last week, some polls in the weeks leading to the election predicted that Chavez’ party (known by the Spanish acronym PSUV) would lose approximately one-third of governorships. Yet election authorities claimed that the opposition only captured five of the country’s 22 states. The PSUV consolidated its power in rural areas including the state of Barinas which was won by Chavez’ brother Adan.

The quantity of the opposition’s gains was few yet where they won was vital. The two states that the PSUV lost- Miranda and Zulia- are among Venezuela’s most populated. Furthermore, the capital city of Caracas and most of its surrounding neighborhoods were won by opposition candidates.

Though the electoral results may force the government and opposition to work closer together, both sides tried to spin the results in their favor:

"A new stage is beginning," Mr. Chavez said. "For me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path.'"

Opposition leader Manuel Rosales said: "What's important is that the map of Venezuela has started to change."

Sunday’s elections were punctuated by a high voter turnout (image); electoral officials estimated approximately 65% of roughly 17 million eligible voters went to the polls. Such high figures forced some polling stations to remain open hours after they were supposed to close.

Image- Xinhua
Sources- The Latin Americanist, Xinhua, Al Jazerra English, CBC, Bloomberg, Guardian UK