This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-35019111
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela election: Maduro's Socialists trounced | Venezuela election: Maduro's Socialists trounced |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The opposition in Venezuela has won a majority of seats in the National Assembly, overturning nearly two decades of dominance by the Socialists of President Nicolas Maduro. | The opposition in Venezuela has won a majority of seats in the National Assembly, overturning nearly two decades of dominance by the Socialists of President Nicolas Maduro. |
| Five hours after polling ended, the National Electoral Council announced the opposition had won 99 seats. | Five hours after polling ended, the National Electoral Council announced the opposition had won 99 seats. |
| President Maduro has admitted defeat, recognising "these adverse results". | President Maduro has admitted defeat, recognising "these adverse results". |
| It is the worst-ever defeat for the leftist movement founded by former leader Hugo Chavez in 1999. | It is the worst-ever defeat for the leftist movement founded by former leader Hugo Chavez in 1999. |
| The Socialists have gained 46 seats, with another 22 yet to be declared. | The Socialists have gained 46 seats, with another 22 yet to be declared. |
| Results arrived much later than expected, five hours after polls closed. Fireworks erupted over the capital, Caracas, soon after. | Results arrived much later than expected, five hours after polls closed. Fireworks erupted over the capital, Caracas, soon after. |
| Among the campaign issues were chronic food shortages of staples - such as milk, rice, coffee, sugar, corn flour and cooking oil. | Among the campaign issues were chronic food shortages of staples - such as milk, rice, coffee, sugar, corn flour and cooking oil. |
| Venezuela been hit hard by the continuing low price of oil, its main export. It also has the continent's highest inflation rate. | Venezuela been hit hard by the continuing low price of oil, its main export. It also has the continent's highest inflation rate. |
| Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an "economic war" waged by the opposition. | Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an "economic war" waged by the opposition. |
| The reaction | The reaction |
| "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. | "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. |
| "We have lost a battle today, but the struggle to build a new society is just beginning." - Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president and head of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. | "We have lost a battle today, but the struggle to build a new society is just beginning." - Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president and head of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. |
| "The results are as we hoped. Venezuela has won. It's irreversible," tweeted (in Spanish) Henrique Capriles, a leading opposition figure in the Democratic Unity Roundtable and a former presidential challenger. | "The results are as we hoped. Venezuela has won. It's irreversible," tweeted (in Spanish) Henrique Capriles, a leading opposition figure in the Democratic Unity Roundtable and a former presidential challenger. |
| "Venezuela wanted a change and that change came. A new majority expressed itself and sent a clear and resounding message." - Jesus Torrealba - opposition coalition chief. | "Venezuela wanted a change and that change came. A new majority expressed itself and sent a clear and resounding message." - Jesus Torrealba - opposition coalition chief. |
| What happens now? | What happens now? |
| The opposition alliance, made up of centrist and conservative parties, is confident of ultimately taking at least 112 seats after 16 years of socialist control. | The opposition alliance, made up of centrist and conservative parties, is confident of ultimately taking at least 112 seats after 16 years of socialist control. |
| According to senior figures in the alliance, that would allow them to pass laws allowing the release of political prisoners and to reverse, for example, appointments to senior legal positions made by the current government, says the BBC's Wyre Davies, in Caracas. | According to senior figures in the alliance, that would allow them to pass laws allowing the release of political prisoners and to reverse, for example, appointments to senior legal positions made by the current government, says the BBC's Wyre Davies, in Caracas. |
| It also gives stronger momentum to the opposition should it wish to call a referendum on Mr Maduro's future. This could take place only when his presidency reaches its halfway point in April next year. | It also gives stronger momentum to the opposition should it wish to call a referendum on Mr Maduro's future. This could take place only when his presidency reaches its halfway point in April next year. |
| However, under Venezuela's presidential system the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will still be a powerful force, as it controls many municipalities. | However, under Venezuela's presidential system the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will still be a powerful force, as it controls many municipalities. |
| The next presidential election is due in April 2019. | The next presidential election is due in April 2019. |
| Why does the result matter? | Why does the result matter? |
| How the campaigns were run | How the campaigns were run |
| The elections were widely seen as a referendum on President Maduro, the handpicked successor of the late President Hugo Chavez, and the party's socialist policies. | The elections were widely seen as a referendum on President Maduro, the handpicked successor of the late President Hugo Chavez, and the party's socialist policies. |
| The opposition accused the PSUV of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country's oil wealth. | The opposition accused the PSUV of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country's oil wealth. |
| Mr Maduro says his party defends the interests of ordinary Venezuelans and wants to complete Mr Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution". | Mr Maduro says his party defends the interests of ordinary Venezuelans and wants to complete Mr Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution". |
| The opposition also accused the government of increasing authoritarianism. | The opposition also accused the government of increasing authoritarianism. |
| Earlier this year, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence - a charge critics say was politically motivated. | Earlier this year, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence - a charge critics say was politically motivated. |
| Did you vote in the election? What is your reaction to the result? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
| Or please use the form below: |