Venezuela’s ruling socialist party swept mayoral races in most of the
state capitals and major cities in Sunday elections boycotted by
several opposition parties, officials announced.
The ruling party won in 41 of 42 cities where a winner was declared, according to early official results. The opposition even lost in strongholds such as Maracaibo and the Caracas-area district of Sucre.
Around 47 % of eligible voters cast ballots.
That was down from 58 % in municipal elections four years ago, as three of the four major opposition parties refused to field candidates because of irregularities and allegations of fraud in recent gubernatorial elections.
The election of mayors in all of Venezuela’s 335 municipalities was the last national balloting before next year’s presidential contest, in which socialist President Nicolas Maduro is expected to seek re-election despite his steep unpopularity.
The ruling party won in 41 of 42 cities where a winner was declared, according to early official results. The opposition even lost in strongholds such as Maracaibo and the Caracas-area district of Sucre.
Around 47 % of eligible voters cast ballots.
That was down from 58 % in municipal elections four years ago, as three of the four major opposition parties refused to field candidates because of irregularities and allegations of fraud in recent gubernatorial elections.
The election of mayors in all of Venezuela’s 335 municipalities was the last national balloting before next year’s presidential contest, in which socialist President Nicolas Maduro is expected to seek re-election despite his steep unpopularity.
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