CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's party scored a string of victories in key local polls, but in a blow to his socialist revolution the opposition won some major power centres, results showed Monday.
The results shake up the political landscape of the OPEC nation, reducing the massive dominance of the fiercely anti-liberal Chavez and his party.
"The symbols won by the opposition are more than expected: they won the capital and states representing the economic and political heart of the country," said Luis Vicente Leon from Datanalisis.
Some 45 percent of the population will now be governed by policitians from the opposition, who won in states representing around 70 percent of national economic activity.
Opposition gains include the oil-rich western region of Zulia and populous and rich Miranda state, which comprises part of Caracas.
A record of more than 65 percent of 17 million eligible voters turned out to vote for governors, mayors and heads of regional councils in Sunday's polls.
The elections had been seen as a test for Chavez and his drive for nationalization and social projects after his aggressive campaign drive, and amid growing discontent over escalating crime, corruption and inflation.
Candidates from Chavez's socialist party won 17 states out of 22 in the vote which came almost 10 years after he was first elected. They also won back three states previously held by dissidents from his party.
"A new stage is beginning. For me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path,'" the anti-US leader said after the results were announced.
But Chavez, a friend to Iran, Russia and Cuba's Fidel Castro, lost ground in his expected plan to abolish term limits to try to win a third six-year term in 2012.
And he faces new challenges in dealing with the opposition.
Chavez "will have to negotiate with them. He can't turn his back on them and that's excellent for democratization in Venezuela," Leon said.
Chavez criss-crossed the oil-rich South American country campaigning for his party's candidates, one year after his defeat in a referendum on extending his authority.
Opposition groups meanwhile joined together to increase their chances for victory, running single candidates in a majority of states and municipalities to block Chavez's bid to extend his "21st century socialism."
Fireworks popped in the early hours in the capital Caracas, where opposition candidate Antonio Ledezma won a surprise victory over the socialist party candidate, Aristobulo Isturiz.
"I dedicate this victory to the most humble," Ledezma said, inviting Chavez to work with him to "rescue" Caracas, one of the continent's most dangerous, traffic-choked cities.
Famous for his fiery language, 54-year-old Chavez had threatened to imprison opponents, or even send tanks onto the streets if his party lost in Carabobo.
But few incidents were reported in a calm election here.
About 300 candidates, mainly from the opposition, were prevented from running due to corruption allegations.
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