Chavez Candidates Win Large Majority

From The Australian:

CANDIDATES from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's socialist party won 17 states out of 22 in gubernatorial elections seen as a key test for the leftist leader, but the opposition won the capital Caracas, according to official results.

With 95.67 percent of votes counted nationally, the opposition kept hold of two states and won a third, central Miranda, as well as the key capital municipal post. Two more governor posts, including the populous Carabobo state, were not immediately announced.

Turnout was 65.45 percent of almost 17 million eligible voters, a record for local election in recent years, said Tibisay Lucena, president of the National Electoral Council.

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