President Hugo Chavez, despite an intensifying battle with cancer, tightened his grip on Venezuela, with the opposition suffering a blow and losing several governorships in state races.
Chavez's top rival, Henrique Capriles, survived his own tough test, winning re-election as Miranda state governor. But Chavez's party gained in four other states, on Sunday said electoral officials in this OPEC nation with the world's top proven oil reserves. The prominent opposition leader allowed that the losses were a ‘tough moment’ for Venezuela's opposition.
‘Our (opposition candidates) have lost some ground. But they are no less leaders than they were on Sunday,’ Capriles said.
‘We are going to reach the dream that we have. This is a tough moment, but there are opportunities in every tough moment.’ In the country's 23 states, the socialist ruling party won 20 of the top state posts while the opposition held onto three including Miranda, the electoral council said.
Chavez's top rival, Henrique Capriles, survived his own tough test, winning re-election as Miranda state governor. But Chavez's party gained in four other states, on Sunday said electoral officials in this OPEC nation with the world's top proven oil reserves. The prominent opposition leader allowed that the losses were a ‘tough moment’ for Venezuela's opposition.
‘Our (opposition candidates) have lost some ground. But they are no less leaders than they were on Sunday,’ Capriles said.
‘We are going to reach the dream that we have. This is a tough moment, but there are opportunities in every tough moment.’ In the country's 23 states, the socialist ruling party won 20 of the top state posts while the opposition held onto three including Miranda, the electoral council said.