Opposition wins control of National Assembly by a landslide, delivering major setback to the long-ruling socialists.

Democratic Unity Movement (MUD) party
celebrated after knowing the first results of the
election [Juan Barreto/AFP]


Venezuela's opposition won control of the state
legislature, electoral authorities said, in a blow
to the oil-rich
country's socialist government that has held
the congress for 16 years.
The broad, mostly centre-right MUD coalition
won a majority of 99 out of 167 seats in the
state legislature, the head of the National
Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena,
announced early on Monday.
Socialist President Nicolas Maduro promptly
appeared on television saying he accepted the
defeat, a blow to his leadership during a dire
economic crisis.
"We have come with our morals and our ethics
to recognise these adverse results, to accept
them and to say to our Venezuela that the
constitution and democracy have triumphed,"
he said.


Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman, reporting from
Caracas, said the defeat was a stinging blow to
the government.
"This is even more than the opposition had
hoped for. It's one of the strongest blows to
the socialist revolution in the 17 years since it's
been in power."
Fireworks erupted over the capital Caracas as
opposition supporters celebrated.
Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela
won 46 seats in the single-chamber National
Assembly, Lucena said. The results for 22 other
seats had not yet been confirmed.
The result strengthens the opposition's hand
against Maduro though it was short of the
super majority the MUD had hoped for.
"Venezuela has won," tweeted senior opposition
leader Henrique Capriles. "We always said this
was the way: humility, maturity and serenity."
Maduro called for the opposition to "live
together" with his side.
He softened his tone from before the elections
when he had vowed to hold onto power "no
matter how".
"We have lost a battle today, but the struggle
to build a new society is just beginning," he
said.
"A counter-revolution has triumphed, which has
imposed its own way, its war," he said, in
reference to what he alleges is a US-backed
"economic war" against Venezuela by
businesses.
Hit by falling prices for the oil exports on
which it relies, the country of 30 million is in an
economic crisis, with families suffering
shortages of basic foods and supplies.