CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chávez has retained power in Venezuela, after defeating opponent Henrique Capriles, by a comfortable victory of 900,000 votes. Chávez, the longest serving president in Latin America, has been re-elected for the third time. His new term will be from 2013 to 2019. He was first elected to power in 1998.
Tensions were high Sunday night as announcement of the results were delayed.
Finally, fireworks exploded over downtown Caracas amid a cacophony of horn-honking by elated Chavez supporters waving flags and jumping for joy outside the presidential palace.
Pumping his fist in the air, Chávez address his supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace as a barrage of fireworks lit up the sky. “The revolution has triumphed!” Chávez told the crowd, saying his supporters “voted for socialism.”
“Today we’ve shown that Venezuela’s democracy is one of the best democracies in the world, and we will continue to show it,” he shouted, waving a replica of Símon Bolivar sword.
As the result was announced, his supporters burst into cheers and songs of “Viva Le Patria” and “Ooh Aah, Chávez won’t go.” (CMC)
