Hugo Chávez Wins Re-election Bid in Venezuela

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's firebrand leader, extended his 14-year grip on power last night after seeing off challenger Henrique Capriles in close-run elections.

Chávez, a socialist whose so-called Bolivarian Revolution places him in firm opposition to the USA, won with 54 per cent of the vote.

"Viva Venezuela! Viva the fatherland!" exulted the leftist leader. "The battle was perfect and the victory was perfect."

"I want to include everybody, including sectors of the opposition," said Chávez, 58, wearing his trademark red shirt, said in a tacit acceptance of the best electoral showing against him yet.

With 90 per cent of around 15 million ballot papers counted, Venezuela's electoral council announced Chávez's victory at 10 pm on Sunday night.

Capriles, who was expected to dramatically alter foreign policy and open Venezuela up to private enterprise should he have won, claimed 44 per cent.

He had managed to steal away some of the traditional base of chavismo, poor Venezuelans who live in urban shanty towns.

But Chávez – accused of authoritarianism for his subordination of the judiciary and legislature – prevailed with 7.4 million votes.

He will lead Venezuela, which has the world's biggest oil reserves, for another six years. » | Jonathan Gilbert, Caracas | Monday, October 08, 2012


THE GUARDIAN: Hugo Chávez: a victory of enduring charisma and political mastery: Venezuelan voters keep faith in president and his revolution by extending his 14-year rule, but questions over his health remain » | Rory Carroll | Monday, October 08, 2012