Opposition makes gains in Venezuela vote

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez's allies won a majority in Venezuela's local elections Sunday, but the opposition made important gains, capturing the Caracas mayor's office and two of the most populous states.

With more than 95 percent of votes counted, Chavez's allies held on to gubernatorial posts in 17 states, while opposition gubernatorial candidates won at least three states.

"It's Venezuela's victory," Chavez told supporters. "The democratic path that Venezuela chose was ratified."

The opposition won in the two most populous states - Miranda and Zulia - as well as Nueva Esparta, election agency chief Tibisay Lucena said. The Caracas mayor's office now shifts from a Chavez supporter to an opponent.

Chavez's brother, Adan, won a tight race to succeed their father as governor in the president's home state of Barinas. The results of two other states - Carabobo and Tachira - were still too close to call.

Turnout topped 65 percent among the 16.8 million registered voters, a new high for a local election in Venezuela, Lucena said.

Chavez faced an emboldened opposition aiming to break his dominance and win back power in key states and cities.

Although Chavez held on to a majority of posts, the vote still could force him to deal with more hostile opponents at the local level.

Antonio Ledezma, the mayor-elect of Caracas, called for cooperation between Chavez's government and opposition mayors, saying "I invite the president of the republic to work together to rescue Caracas" - a city blighted by crime, trash and crumbling infrastructure.

A similar invitation was offered by Henrique Capriles, who defeated one of Chavez's closest confidants to become the next governor of Miranda state, which includes part of Caracas.

"What's important is that the map of Venezuela has started to change," said opposition leader Manuel Rosales, calling the victories important gains for the anti-Chavez camp.

After a decade in office, the president still enjoys solid popularity, but last year's defeat of his attempt to abolish term limits energized the opposition, which has also sought to capitalize on complaints about corruption and inflation.

Aquiles Vera, a 47-year-old construction worker who voted in a Caracas slum, said he supported Chavez's candidates and believed the president's ability to stay in office was at stake.

Vera said he fears a loss for pro-Chavez candidates could mean "all the president's plans would collapse - like the missions (social programs), cheap food, medicines."

In the second-largest city of Maracaibo, Isabel Cepeda said she was fed up with corruption and trash-strewn streets, and was voting for opposition challenger Manuel Rosales for mayor. Cepeda, 52, said it was also a vote against Chavez.

"We want democracy to continue in our country, and it's now held hostage," said Cepeda, in Zulia state, one of the opposition's prizes in the vote.

Chavez party spokesman Alberto Muller played down the opposition victories.

"We are the country's foremost political force," said Muller, flanked by other red-clad Chavez allies. "We don't see an opposition victory on a political map painted red."

In 2004 state elections, Chavez allies swept all but two of 23 governorships and a majority of local offices. In this vote, 22 governorships, 330 mayoral posts and other offices were up for grabs.

At least 106 people were detained by authorities during the vote, many for destroying balloting materials such as voter receipts, the attorney general's office said. Six were arrested in Guarico state for allegedly attacking voters.

One person also was stabbed in a clash between government supporters and opponents in Bolivar state.

But authorities said the vote largely went smoothly. Polling stations where there were lines were permitted to remain open until all had cast ballots, a common practice in Venezuelan elections.

Chavez said voters "showed there's a democratic system here."

"Who can say there's a dictatorship in Venezuela?," he said.
MyWay