Venezuela’s Opposition Won Parliamentary Vote

Local Editor

Venezuela's opposition won control of congress for the first time in 16 years Monday as voters punished the socialist government for an economic crisis and insecurity in the oil-rich nation.

President Nicolas Maduro promptly accepted the defeat.

The result was a triumph for the center-right opposition, which has struggled for years for a foothold and has seen many of its leaders jailed.

The Democratic Unity Roundtable [MUD] coalition won a majority of 99 out of 167 seats in the state legislature, the head of the National Electoral Council [CNE], Tibisay Lucena, announced shortly after midnight, five hours after polls closed.

Fireworks erupted over the capital Caracas as opposition supporters celebrated.

"Venezuela has won," tweeted Henrique Capriles, leader of one of the parties in MUD.

It was unclear, however, how far the MUD will be able to push its advantage in congress to force a change of course or even to get rid of Maduro, who vowed to push on with his socialist programs.

"We have come with our morals and our ethics to recognize these adverse results, to accept them and to say to our Venezuela that the constitution and democracy have triumphed," the 53-year-old said in a televised address.

"We have lost a battle today, but the struggle to build a new society is just beginning."

Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 46 seats in the single-chamber National Assembly, Lucena said. The results for 22 other seats have yet to be confirmed.

Maduro called for the opposition to "live together" with his side.

He softened his tone from before the elections when he had vowed to hold onto power "no matter how."

Maduro's supporters fear an opposition-dominated congress will stop approving his social spending programs.

Venezuela has the globe's biggest oil reserves but also widespread poverty.

Argentines last month voted out their leftist president Cristina Kirchner.

"Change has begun today in Venezuela," said MUD's executive secretary, Jesus Torrealba.

He joined hands with another prominent face in the opposition, Lilian Tintori.

A prosecutor in the case later said false evidence was used against him and his supporters say he is a political prisoner.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team