ELECTION RETURNS – VENEZUELA – AT 8:39 A.M. ET:  They do actually have elections in Venezuela, although hefty doubts have been raised about the honesty of the count.  But this seems to be trending in the right direction.   It gives me special pleasure to quote Britain's left-wing paper, The Guardian, on this.  The old Marxist reporters must have choked on their own words:

Opponents of Hugo Chávez today made major gains in legislative elections that could weaken the president's dominant power in Venezuela.

The opposition overturned Chávez's two-thirds majority in the national assembly, and claimed to have won most of the popular vote. If confirmed, the result would mark a milestone.

The Democratic Unity coalition won at least 60 of 165 seats in the assembly – well short of a majority but enough to end Chávez's ability to appoint judges and other officials and to push through major laws.

The opposition said it had won 52% of the popular vote, but that controversial changes in electoral rules favouring rural areas, where Chávez is popular, meant that support failed to translate into proportional seats.

Of course, Chavez called it a victory.  What do you expect?

But remember, Chavez's Venezuela is a place where new rules suddenly pop up, making it more difficult for the opposition to operate.  I wouldn't be surprised if the 2012 elections in Venezuela are manipulated from the start.  And the leftists of the world will cheer.  And Hollywood will award Chavez a lifetime achievement award.

September 27, 2010