Venezuela regime declares vindication in elections

Bloomberg News

Venezuela’s regime claimed wins in 17 of 23 state governor elections, which defied polls that had predicted widespread opposition gains.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday held voting stations open hours past their scheduled 6 p.m. closing. Officials emerged about 10:15 p.m. to announce results they said vindicated the policies of Mr. Maduro, heir to the office once held by strongman Hugo Chavez.

“This only happens in Venezuela,” said a jubilant Mr. Maduro, flanked by his ministers.

Mr. Maduro called the long-delayed elections only after months of rioting, making a riposte to accusations that he’s trying to end a six-decade democracy in a country once made prosperous by oil. Opposition supporters participated in the process in hopes that a strong showing could usher in talks to end the grinding political and economic crisis. Now the regime’s shock victories threaten to revive the street violence that claimed more than 120 lives since April.

Polls had predicted the opposition would win the majority of the nation’s states. Venebarometro, a Caracas consultancy, said that 52 percent of likely voters favored opposition candidates, compared with 28 percent for Mr. Maduro’s allies.

Gerardo Blyde, mayor of a Caracas municipality and head of the opposition’s campaign, said late Sunday that the alliance refused to accept the results. He called for a stateby-state audit and asked candidates to restart street demonstrations.