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| Hugo Chávez allies triumph in Venezuela poll | Hugo Chávez allies triumph in Venezuela poll |
| (4 months later) | |
| Allies of the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, have steamrollered the opposition in gubernatorial elections, winning 20 of 23 states. | Allies of the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, have steamrollered the opposition in gubernatorial elections, winning 20 of 23 states. |
| The only good news for the opposition was the re-election of its leader, Henrique Capriles, who lost to Chávez in October's presidential vote. | The only good news for the opposition was the re-election of its leader, Henrique Capriles, who lost to Chávez in October's presidential vote. |
| Sunday's vote came less than a week after Venezuela's leftist president had surgery in Cuba for cancer, for the fourth time. | Sunday's vote came less than a week after Venezuela's leftist president had surgery in Cuba for cancer, for the fourth time. |
| It was widely seen as a referendum on whether his socialist-inspired Bolivarian revolution movement has enough momentum to outlive him. | It was widely seen as a referendum on whether his socialist-inspired Bolivarian revolution movement has enough momentum to outlive him. |
| Capriles's win sets him up as the presumed challenger to go up against the vice-president Nicolas Maduro, Chávez's handpicked successor in presidential elections that would be held within 30 days of the president's death or separation from office. | Capriles's win sets him up as the presumed challenger to go up against the vice-president Nicolas Maduro, Chávez's handpicked successor in presidential elections that would be held within 30 days of the president's death or separation from office. |
| "It really does underscore the fact that Chávismo really can survive, at least at the regional level, without Chávez," said Miguel Tinker Salas, a Latin American studies professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California. | "It really does underscore the fact that Chávismo really can survive, at least at the regional level, without Chávez," said Miguel Tinker Salas, a Latin American studies professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California. |
| "The reality is that the Chávistas today proved that their movement is institutionalised enough to sustain itself and to win statehouses in almost 90% of Venezuela." | "The reality is that the Chávistas today proved that their movement is institutionalised enough to sustain itself and to win statehouses in almost 90% of Venezuela." |
| The vote was the first in the almost 14 years of Chávez's presidency in which he has been unable to actively campaign. He has not spoken publicly since having surgery on Tuesday. | The vote was the first in the almost 14 years of Chávez's presidency in which he has been unable to actively campaign. He has not spoken publicly since having surgery on Tuesday. |
| Jorge Rodríguez, campaign manager for the pro-Chávez camp, hailed the victory, saying it represented "the map painted red" – the colour of Chávez's Socialist party. | Jorge Rodríguez, campaign manager for the pro-Chávez camp, hailed the victory, saying it represented "the map painted red" – the colour of Chávez's Socialist party. |
| The strong showing could give the president's confidants a freer hand to deepen his leftwing policies, including a drive to strengthen grassroots citizen councils that are directly funded by central government. | The strong showing could give the president's confidants a freer hand to deepen his leftwing policies, including a drive to strengthen grassroots citizen councils that are directly funded by central government. |
| The loss of ground by anti-Chávez candidates raises tough questions for the opposition. It lost five of its governorships, including the country's most populous state, Zulia, an important centre of the oil industry that is Venezuela's economic lifeblood. | The loss of ground by anti-Chávez candidates raises tough questions for the opposition. It lost five of its governorships, including the country's most populous state, Zulia, an important centre of the oil industry that is Venezuela's economic lifeblood. |
| Capriles beat former vice-president Elias Jaua in the nation's second most populous state, Miranda, and his win will allow him to cement his position as the country's dominant opposition leader. His supporters celebrated, shouting while fireworks exploded overhead. | Capriles beat former vice-president Elias Jaua in the nation's second most populous state, Miranda, and his win will allow him to cement his position as the country's dominant opposition leader. His supporters celebrated, shouting while fireworks exploded overhead. |
| Capriles told supporters in a victory speech that "it's difficult to come here and show a smile". "This is a difficult moment, but in every difficult moment opportunities emerge," Capriles said, wearing a tracksuit emblazoned with the yellow, blue and red of the Venezuelan flag. "We have to strengthen ourselves more." | Capriles told supporters in a victory speech that "it's difficult to come here and show a smile". "This is a difficult moment, but in every difficult moment opportunities emerge," Capriles said, wearing a tracksuit emblazoned with the yellow, blue and red of the Venezuelan flag. "We have to strengthen ourselves more." |
| The 53% voter turnout was considerably lower than the more than 80% who cast ballots in October's presidential vote, when Chávez won another six-year term. Some said the closeness of the vote to Christmas and apparent apathy among some voters contributed to the relatively low turnout. "It seems like people are more interested in getting ready for Christmas than anything else," said Ricardo Méndez, a bus driver who voted for Jaua. | The 53% voter turnout was considerably lower than the more than 80% who cast ballots in October's presidential vote, when Chávez won another six-year term. Some said the closeness of the vote to Christmas and apparent apathy among some voters contributed to the relatively low turnout. "It seems like people are more interested in getting ready for Christmas than anything else," said Ricardo Méndez, a bus driver who voted for Jaua. |
| Chávez's allies had framed the elections as a referendum on his legacy, urging people to dedicate the vote to the president. Banners went up on lampposts ahead of the vote reading "Now more than ever, with Chávez". | Chávez's allies had framed the elections as a referendum on his legacy, urging people to dedicate the vote to the president. Banners went up on lampposts ahead of the vote reading "Now more than ever, with Chávez". |
| The president meanwhile, remained out of sight in Cuba, recovering accompanied by his four children after his latest operation for pelvic cancer. | The president meanwhile, remained out of sight in Cuba, recovering accompanied by his four children after his latest operation for pelvic cancer. |
| David Smilde, a University of Georgia sociology professor, said the president's candidates benefited from Venezuelans' uncertainty about a future without Chávez and fears of losing benefits they've accrued under him. "I think with Chavez sick… it makes them think what would things be like without Chávez," Smilde said. "People are thinking of their own interest." | David Smilde, a University of Georgia sociology professor, said the president's candidates benefited from Venezuelans' uncertainty about a future without Chávez and fears of losing benefits they've accrued under him. "I think with Chavez sick… it makes them think what would things be like without Chávez," Smilde said. "People are thinking of their own interest." |
| There were complaints of improper campaigning on election day. While voting was under way, Maduro spoke on television urging supporters to vote, while opponents called his remarks a violation of electoral rules. Speaking at a news conference, Maduro implored voters: "Let's not fail Chávez." He addressed those who hadn't cast ballots yet, saying: "Let's not make a bad impression with our commander Chávez." | There were complaints of improper campaigning on election day. While voting was under way, Maduro spoke on television urging supporters to vote, while opponents called his remarks a violation of electoral rules. Speaking at a news conference, Maduro implored voters: "Let's not fail Chávez." He addressed those who hadn't cast ballots yet, saying: "Let's not make a bad impression with our commander Chávez." |
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