CARACAS (AFP) — Leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Monday hailed his party's majority victories in key local polls but recognized opposition gains, in five states and the capital 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.
"Who can say there's a dictatorship in Venezuela?" Chavez said, in a jab at his many critics.
"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.
The polls were seen as a test for Chavez and his drive for nationalization and social projects, amid growing discontent over escalating crime, corruption and inflation.
Despite Chavista gains, the opposition also made important advances, keeping hold of two states and winning populous central Miranda, southwestern Tachira and northern Carabobo, as well as the capital.
Candidates from Chavez's socialist party won 17 states out of 22, first results showed, in the vote which came almost 10 years after he was first elected.
Chavez's candidates also won back three states previously held by dissidents from his party.
The Venezuelan leader, a friend to Iran, Russia and Cuba's Fidel Castro, was expected to use the victory as a mandate to push for support to abolish term limits to try to win a third six-year term in 2012.
He 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 joined together to increase their chances for victory, running single candidates in a majority of states and municipalities in their bid 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.
Around 300 candidates, mainly from the opposition, were prevented from running in the elections due to corruption allegations.
Chavez vowed earlier Sunday to press ahead with his socialist policies despite tumbling oil prices.
Venezuelan crude prices fell this week to 40.68 dollars per barrel, after floating above 120 dollars in the middle of the year.
In the capital's vast Petare slum, Maria Teresa Padron, 80, said she had voted for a candidate from Chavez's party to show her support for the president.
"God sent us Chavez. No one will give us the well-being this president offers us. No one took us into account before, but thanks to him, I live well now," Padron said.
Another resident, Cesar Alberto, chose an opposition candidate to protest the current mayor.
"The president came to support his candidates but not to see the problems here. There's rubbish, violence and a lack of water," he said, pointing to piles of trash.
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