Venezuelan Elections 2010 Results

Hey guys! I don't know if I mentioned this in my introduction ( and I am too lazy to check), but I was born in a country called Venezuela! It is in South America and I am sure everyone is familiar with its bad rep. Well just recently, actually yesterday was election day for the legislative elections. Polls opened up yesterday, and the the Venezuelan people waited in lines that stretched down sidewalks and plazas outside polling stations in Caracas early Sunday. Venezuelans are voting for all of the 165 members of the National Assembly, which is controlled by the Socialist Party of President Hugo Chavez.Opposition candidates are assured of expanding their tiny share of seats, after boycotting the previous vote in 2005.  It is unclear if they can seize a third of the seats, which they are seeking in an effort to block major legislation that requires two-thirds approval. The following is very important as it will tie in with the results and the bigger picture which is the 2012 Presidential elections. President Chavez campaigned heavily for Socialist Party candidates around the country, in an effort to ensure his party retains at least two-thirds of the legislature.

The Venezuelan people though are ready for a change, and they are saying that Chavez decides everything in the country, and the opinions of other people do not matter. They also hope that opposition lawmakers will help to give voice to the people outside the socialist party.

The Results

So, what happened?

Well, President Chavez maintained his sway in the National Assembly, with his ruling Socialist Party winning at least 90 of 165 seats that were up for grabs in Sunday's congressional polls.However, Chavez failed to hold on to the two-thirds majority his party enjoyed in the Assembly, with the Opposition alliance getting as much as 59 seats, up from 11 last time.

Even though we lost, we still won. Why? Because Chavez lost his two- thirds majority. That is significant because now Chavez will no longer (at least legally) control the government because his opposition has some power now. But what is the bigger picture? The 2012 Presidential Elections! This will be the year that the Venezuelan people will have to rise and stand up for the country they love. Because if this man remains in office and gets re-elected, then say good-bye to any form of democracy and freedom Venezuela has because Venezuela will become the new Cuba.

In the end this is actually a win for us Venezuelans. Chavez's opposition campaigned hard for these elections, but Chavez Socialist Party did no campaigning at all. Actually, Chavez did all the campaigning. So, in the end this is a huge blow and a major lost for Chavez. This means that the Venezuelan people are starting to see things how they really are and not for the lies and tricks of Hugo Chavez. There are still two years left for the Presidential Elections, but much can happen in two years. Hopefully those that sided with Chavez today will betray him tomorrow.

-HR