Although the ruling PSUV [1] party won the majority of mayoral races in the country's municipal elections [2], Boz from Bloggings by Boz [3]says that Venezuela “remains divided and neither side has a clear majority.”
According to the results [4] announced by The National Electoral Council (CNE), the ruling party won 196 municipalities, while the opposing MUD [5] won 53.
The blog Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights kept a live blog [6] of the elections on December 8, 2013. They explain that the opposition “won all of the expected symbolic capitals”, and add:
This result clearly gives [President] Maduro some breathing room. Compared to where he was two months ago, with a government in a tail spin, he now looks like he is in control, having gotten past a major hurdle. The opposition clearly did not get the big plebiscite win that it sought. But it is in reasonable shape with a good showing in popular vote despite all of the campaign inequities. They gained ground in number of mayors and control many important capitals. This will give them space to provide an alternative model of governance and maintain their public profile. Maduro has gained some breathing room but 2014 is guaranteed to be a difficult year.