Voting setbacks slow down the Hugo Chávez ‘red machine’

President Chávez’s hopes of re-election in 2013 were dealt a blow after Venezuela’s opposition won strategic victories in regional elections at the weekend. The socialist leader declared victory after taking at least 17 of 22 states in Sunday’s elections, making big gains in rural areas. However, two of the most populous and economically important states, Zulia and Miranda, fell to a resurgent opposition, which also won control of Caracas city council and Petare, the country’s biggest slum and once a safe seat for Mr Chávez.

The losses are likely to stand in the way of the President’s ambitions to change the constitution to allow himself to stand for re-election in 2013. The former paratrooper, who wants to convert the oil-rich nation into a beacon of socialism, may struggle to stay in power if the opposition builds on its victories.

The 54-year-old President is still overwhelmingly popular in Venezuela, commanding the support of more than half of voters, according to polls. With, Mr Chávez having beein in power for a decade, however, analysts put opposition gains down to discontent over crime, inflation and poor public services. After a series of landslide victories Sunday’s results are the biggest blow yet to his “red machine”.

When the results came in Mr Chávez brushed aside any hint of defeat, insisting that they opened the way for him to make Venezuela a 21st-century socialist state. “The flame is stronger today,” Mr Chávez said. “This is a great victory for the party. The path of building socialism has been endorsed and now we will focus on the task of deepening and extending our project.” For a politician whose speeches are punctuated by hyperbole and threats, it was, though, a very low-key victory speech. Gone were recent threats to jail opposition leaders or mobilise tanks if results went the wrong way.

The opposition-held capital, Caracas, could lead resistance to Mr Chávez’s ambition to abolish presidential term limits. Last year Mr Chávez lost a referendum to change the constitution - his first election defeat since he stormed to power in 1998. Luis Vicente León, a leading pollster at the Venezuelan firm Datanalisis, hailed Sunday’s result as sensational for the opposition. “To win Caracas and [the metropolitan state around the capital] is really impressive. It gives them something to celebrate and Chávez will have to chew over how he sells the idea that there is no alternative to his project,” said Mr León.

The opposition leader, Manuel Rosales, said: “What’s important is that the map of Venezuela has started to change.”

Supporters had been worried that voters would stay away. Tthe record 65 per cent turnout reflected, however, the equal passion - and loathing - that Mr Chávez inspires among the electorate. The Government denied a claim that troops supposed to be guarding polling stations in the Petare region had intimidated voters.