The Venezuelan opposition achieved this Sunday a political triumph of great symbolism by conquering the government of Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez.
The candidate of the coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD), Sergio Garrido, managed to win with 55.36% of the votes to the candidate of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Jorge Arreaza, who obtained 41.27%, according to the results announced by the Regional Electoral Board shortly after 11 pm (local time).
Almost three hours earlier, Arreaza had acknowledged his defeat in a message posted on his Twitter account in which he admitted that he had not achieved his goal.
“Barinas, my dear. The information we receive from our PSUV structures indicates that, although we increased the number of votes, we have not achieved the objective . I heartily thank our heroic militancy. We will continue to protect the Barinese people from all spaces,” Arreaza wrote.
Shortly after, the official Venezuelan television station of Television echoed the announcement.