Venezuela’s Opposition Says It Has Supermajority

What is certain is that Capriles and his coalition partners have inflicted a major defeat on President Nicolas Maduro’s Socialists after 17 years.

Of the 145 seats counted last night, 99 were with the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), and 46 with the government.

The results for two other seats had yet to be finalized.

With a two-thirds majority, the Democratic Unity parties could call an assembly to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution and could fire Supreme Court judges.

But despite the efficiency and transparency promised by the country’s electronic voting system, the National Electoral Council has yet to announce the results of 22 undecided races, nearly a full day after polls closed.

A supporter of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro listens to a radio in Plaza Bolivar square in Caracas, December 6, 2015.

Venezuela’s opposition rejoiced on Monday after its victory in legislative elections.

The country was still waiting for final election results Monday, uncertain about how big an advantage the opposition will have in the National Assembly. Many seemed stunned win. While even moderates pledged to use their new leverage to pass an amnesty for opponents jailed during last year’s protests, putting food on the table is the priority for most Venezuelans. The coalition could also change the current Human Rights Ombudsman who has sided with the government on several critical issues, such as the closure of Venezuela’s border with Colombia.

An opposition supermajority might also lead to greater MUD control over economic policy.

According to many observers, the vote was more against the Maduro government than in favor of any opposition platforms. This election enjoyed a high level of voter participation, with 74.3% of eligible voters taking part in yesterday’s elections.

Fireworks erupted over the capital Caracas as opposition supporters celebrated.

“We’re here to show the other side of our lovely country – and the change is irreversible”, said Freddy Superlano, a newly-elected MP, who defeated Hugo Chavez’s brother Argenis.

After securing control of the National Assembly from the “Chavismo” movement, named for late former socialist President Hugo Chavez, opposition leaders quickly set out their priorities.

The opposition plans on making good on a variety of different campaign promises which they hope would result in a return to the rule of law. Continue closing the polling stations! But he made clear: “The opposition hasn’t won, a counter-revolution has won”.

But Analyst Nicholas Watson at Teneo Intelligence points to the tumult likely after Maduro was forced to recognize his party’s defeat. “I don’t understand why they haven’t announced that result yet”, Hoyos told Fusion Tuesday.

The government dismisses those charges as lies and frequently recalls Washington’s support for a short-lived 2002 coup against Chavez.

For Areaz, who was 8 years old when Chavez came to power, the defeat was unimaginable. “But the truth is Maduro abandoned the revolution, and now it’s hardly a revolution at all”, she said.

Hannah Dreier is on Twitter: twitter.com/hannahdreier.

“I’ve only ever known one government”.

Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez and Jorge Rueda contributed to this report.