Venezuela’s socialists claim election victory but opposition cries foul
Caracas — President Nicolas Maduro’s government won a majority of governorships in Venezuela’s regional election on Sunday, drawing fraud suspicions from the opposition whom polls had shown poised for a big win. Electoral board president Tibisay Lucena said the ruling Socialist Party took 17 governorships, versus five for the opposition Democratic Unity coalition, with results irreversible in all but one of the Opec member’s 23 states. "‘Chavismo’ is alive, in the street, and triumphant," a beaming Maduro said in a speech to the nation, referring to the ruling movement’s name for former president Hugo Chavez. Minutes earlier, opposition leaders had warned the pro-government election board was about to announce results that contradicted their certainty of a "gigantic" victory. "We have serious suspicions and doubts," election campaign chief Gerardo Blyde told reporters. Although opposition leaders drew short of presenting detailed accusations or evidence of fraud, rank-and-file suppo...
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