Venezuelan opposition trounces socialists in blow to ‘Chavismo’

Venezuela’s opposition won control of the National Assembly by a landslide, trouncing the ruling party and altering the balance of power after almost 17 years of socialist rule. The opposition coalition won at least 99 seats in the incoming 167-seat legislature, electoral authorities announced after midnight Sunday. The ruling socialist party won 46 seats. The 19 remaining races remain up for grabs but if enough are won by the opposition it could give the coalition a two-thirds supermajority needed to strongly challenge President Nicolas Maduro’s grip on power.

I can say today that the economic war has triumphed.

President Nicolas Maduro

The streets of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas broke out in shouts of joy, fireworks and car honks after National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena announced the partial results six hours after polls closed. In the plaza in wealthy eastern Caracas that was the epicenter of last year’s bloody anti-government protests, a small group of opponents, some of them sipping champagne, burned red shirts that are the obligatory revolutionary attire. Within seconds, Maduro recognized the opposition’s win, saying that despite an adverse result Venezuela’s democracy had triumphed.

The country wants change and that change is beginning today.

Jesus Torrealba, head of the Democratic Unity opposition coalition

Politics Venezuela