Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Venezuela's opposition won a third of the seats in parliament and claimed a majority of the popular vote in elections, boosting its hopes of defeating President Hugo Chavez at the next presidential poll in 2012.
Although Mr Chavez's Socialist Party retained a majority in the 165-seat National Assembly, it fell short of its goal of keeping at least the two thirds it needs to pass major laws or make appointments to the Supreme Court and electoral authorities without the support of its political foes.
As results came through early yesterday, the newly united opposition Democratic Unity umbrella group said it had won 52 per cent of the overall vote. If confirmed, that would be a symbolic blow to Mr Chavez in the 12th year of his rule of South America's biggest oil exporter.
"We are the majority!" sang opposition supporters after the tallies were announced overnight.
Sunday's polls were watched closely by investors with money in Venezuelan debt. Its benchmark 2027 global bond jumped on the news from polling centres. "This is a huge result for the opposition," David Smilde, a Venezuela expert from the University of Georgia, said.
Following years of defeats and missteps, and a boycott of the last parliamentary poll five years ago, opposition leaders will now focus on trying to topple Mr Chavez in 2012.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments