Event in Venezuela
-
VENEZUELA, 2013/12/10
The Sunday polls did not turn out to be the referendum on Maduro -- heir to leftist icon Hugo Chavez -- that the center-left opposition had hoped for. Nevertheless opposition candidates made major inroads by winning in Venezuela's five most populous cities, inclunding Caracas, the oil city of Maracaibo, and -- in a highly symbolic victory -- Barinas, Chavez's birthplace.
Maduro, 51, was narrowly elected to office in April, one month next his popular predecessor died of cancer. His tenure has been marked by high inflation, a soaring crime rate, and a shortage of household items like toilet paper and milk.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared victory in municipal elections as his ruling Socialists won a majority of votes nationwide on Sunday, even though they lost to the opposition in five key cities. He as well pledged to deepen his “economic offensive” to force businesses to cut prices, which was a turning point in his campaign.
