Caracas, Nov 24 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela returns Monday to its usual activities after successful regional and municipal elections, in which over 65 percent of those registered voted.
For politicians from different trends, the significant rise in attendance represented one of the greatest triumphs this Sunday, because it ended abstentionism that hovered around 50 percent in these kind of polls.
"The Venezuelan people have expressed themselves with strength, and showed extensive participation when voting," stated Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, after the National Electoral Council published its first report.
"To me, as a head of State, this is a signal to boost the Bolivarian Revolution started in this South American country in 1999," Chavez said.
Candidates of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won in 17 of the 20 states, whose results have been published in the mentioned official report that had counted 95.67 percent of the voting papers.
So far, Yaracuy, Delta Amacuro, Vargas, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Cojedes, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Monagas, Portuguesa, Sucre, Trujillo and Anzoategui states are in the hands of the socialists.
The opposition dominates Zulia, Nueva Esparta and Miranda states, in addition to the Caracas Metropolitan Council.
"This has been a special success of the PSUV, but the victory is also of all Venezuela, which ratified its democratic triumph and honored the National Constitution," Chavez stated.
On Sunday, almost 17 million Venezuelans elected 22 governors, 328 mayors, 233 legislative council members, 13 councilors for the Caracas Metropolitan Council, and seven for the Alto Apure Metropolitan City Hall.
By Diony Sanabia Abadia
