Venezuela's opposition trounced the ruling Socialists founded by Hugo Chavez to win control of the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years and gain a long-sought platform to challenge President Nicolas Maduro's rule of the OPEC nation.The Democratic Unity coalition won 99 seats to the Socialist party's 46 in the 167-seat National Assembly, the election board said.
Fireworks were set off in celebration in pro-opposition districts of Caracas when the results were announced, while government supporters dismantled planned victory parties.
Maduro, 53, quickly acknowledged the defeat, the worst for the ruling 'Chavismo' movement since Chavez took power in 1999.
'We are here, with morals and ethics, to recognise these adverse results,' Maduro said in a speech to the nation, although he blamed his defeat on a campaign by business leaders and other opponents to sabotage the economy.'The economic war has triumphed today,' Maduro said.
His quick acceptance of the results eased tensions in the volatile nation where the last presidential election in 2013, narrowly won by Maduro, was bitterly disputed and anti-government protests last year led to 43 deaths.Opposition leaders, who have lost over-and-over since Chavez's first election victory 17 years ago, were jubilant, even though their victory was mainly thanks to public disgust at Venezuela's deep economic recession.
