Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was re-elected Sunday to a new six-year term, overcoming an energetic challenge by a candidate backed by an opposition coalition, according to nearly complete results announced by election officials.
The 58-year-old Chavez took 54.42 per cent of the vote, with 90 per cent of the ballots counted, to 44.97 per cent for young opposition candidate Capriles, official results showed on Sunday. Noisy celebrations among Chavez supporters erupted across the capital, Caracas, following the announcement of the result.
“Thank you my dear people!!! Viva Venezuela!!!” Mr Chavez wrote on Twitter after the results were published. “Thank you God! Thank you to all of you!” Capriles, a state governor, had accused the flamboyant incumbent of unfairly leveraging to his advantage Venezuela’s oil wealth as well as his near total control of state institutions.
“It was amazing, it feels super good,” Hildre Andara, a 48-year-old saleswomen said of the victory, as she danced in downtown Caracas. Chavez has had more than a decade to implement his vision of 21st century socialism, a view that emphasizes use of state oil windfalls to fund social programs.
Chavez recognised his new government would need “to respond with greater efficacy and efficiency to the needs of our people”, adding: “I promise you I’ll be a better president.” h for an even bigger state role in the economy and continue populist programmes.
He is also likely to further limit dissent and deepen friendships with rivals of the US. Chavez spoke little during the campaign about his fight with cancer, which since June 2011 has included surgery to remove tumors from his pelvic region as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
He has said his most recent tests showed no sign of illness. He also has strong ties to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, backing Argentina’s sovereignty dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.
The 58-year-old Chavez took 54.42 per cent of the vote, with 90 per cent of the ballots counted, to 44.97 per cent for young opposition candidate Capriles, official results showed on Sunday. Noisy celebrations among Chavez supporters erupted across the capital, Caracas, following the announcement of the result.
“Thank you my dear people!!! Viva Venezuela!!!” Mr Chavez wrote on Twitter after the results were published. “Thank you God! Thank you to all of you!” Capriles, a state governor, had accused the flamboyant incumbent of unfairly leveraging to his advantage Venezuela’s oil wealth as well as his near total control of state institutions.
“It was amazing, it feels super good,” Hildre Andara, a 48-year-old saleswomen said of the victory, as she danced in downtown Caracas. Chavez has had more than a decade to implement his vision of 21st century socialism, a view that emphasizes use of state oil windfalls to fund social programs.
Chavez recognised his new government would need “to respond with greater efficacy and efficiency to the needs of our people”, adding: “I promise you I’ll be a better president.” h for an even bigger state role in the economy and continue populist programmes.
He is also likely to further limit dissent and deepen friendships with rivals of the US. Chavez spoke little during the campaign about his fight with cancer, which since June 2011 has included surgery to remove tumors from his pelvic region as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
He has said his most recent tests showed no sign of illness. He also has strong ties to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, backing Argentina’s sovereignty dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.
