CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will plow on with socialist reforms and try to extend his rule even after losing local elections in power centers including dense city slums that once symbolized his support.
Chavez's party held on to 17 of 22 states up for grabs in elections on Sunday but lost key posts such as the city of Caracas and a handful of the most populous regions in the oil exporting nation of Caribbean beaches and chilly Andean peaks.
Chavez, an anti-U.S. ex-tank division soldier, won power 10 years ago in elections that followed a failed bid to grab power by force. He has become steadily more radical and hopes to make Venezuela a beacon of what he calls "21st century socialism."
Chavez wanted a clear victory in Sunday's vote for governors and mayors to freshen up his mandate for reforms.
He still controls almost all of Venezuela territorially, but his opponents are now set to govern states holding almost half of the population.
That will weigh on Chavez, especially as the world's economic turmoil has dragged the price of oil sharply lower, hurting his ability to finance popular welfare programs.
Opposition leaders celebrated their victories in Sunday's elections and said they would move from being simply anti-Chavez to a constructive political movement.
Even so, Chavez's party won enough votes to reassure him of the popularity of his programs and his takeovers of foreign companies.
"This confirms the construction of Bolivarian socialism in Venezuela. Now we must extend and deepen it," said Chavez in a subdued speech on Sunday where he claimed victory.
He may nationalize more companies in the next months or revive a stalled program of seizing large farms considered idle. He will continue to weave close ties with countries like Russia and Iran in a strategy to lessen U.S. influence. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits Caracas on Wednesday.
This year, Chavez clawed his way back to approval ratings of about 60 percent after losing a December referendum on extending his powers and doing away with term limits.
The man opponents call a dictator consistently accepts negative electoral results, but critics say the concentration of power in his hands weakens Venezuela's democracy.
Chavez desperately wants to run again in 2012 and has made no secret of his ambition to stay in power for decades.
Sunday's results give the opposition more ground to campaign against reforms allowing his reelection, but Chavez insists he won and will try to build momentum for a new referendum on the issue.
"I'M A FIGHTER"
Venezuela is heavily dependent on oil exports. A collapse in crude prices in recent months has not yet been felt on the streets but could start to hurt Chavez's popularity with voters who have felt the benefits of his distribution of oil wealth.
Political scientist Steve Ellner, who wrote "Rethinking Venezuelan Politics" on the Chavez movement, says the president will need to act quickly if he hopes to modify the law.
"Venezuela hasn't felt the world financial situation but it will," Ellner said. "If he has the intention of modifying the constitution to allow him to run in 2012 he'll probably act right away."
While Chavez is not adverse to a challenge, the loss of Venezuela's key cities, along with inner city slums such as Petare in Caracas will be particularly bitter for him.
Slum residents have long been the most fervent Chavez supporters, pouring down from hillside homes to successfully demand his return when he was briefly ousted in a 2002 coup.
But soaring murder rates and garbage rotting on street corners mean city residents come face to face daily with the reality of bad local governance under many Chavez allies.
The opposition could now prove it can do a better job in the capital and its sprawling suburbs ahead of legislative elections in 2010 and the presidential vote in 2012.
They will not have and easy ride. Chavez's Socialist Party won the most votes in the election and he will use the strong central government to limit opponents' success.
He may drag his feet on budget payments to opponents' states or city halls, and will push his development plans and public works through regional officials he appoints.
"I am a fighter. Right from when I was a kid, I learned to fight," Chavez said after casting his vote on Sunday.
Chavez's party held on to 17 of 22 states up for grabs in elections on Sunday but lost key posts such as the city of Caracas and a handful of the most populous regions in the oil exporting nation of Caribbean beaches and chilly Andean peaks.
Chavez, an anti-U.S. ex-tank division soldier, won power 10 years ago in elections that followed a failed bid to grab power by force. He has become steadily more radical and hopes to make Venezuela a beacon of what he calls "21st century socialism."
Chavez wanted a clear victory in Sunday's vote for governors and mayors to freshen up his mandate for reforms.
He still controls almost all of Venezuela territorially, but his opponents are now set to govern states holding almost half of the population.
That will weigh on Chavez, especially as the world's economic turmoil has dragged the price of oil sharply lower, hurting his ability to finance popular welfare programs.
Opposition leaders celebrated their victories in Sunday's elections and said they would move from being simply anti-Chavez to a constructive political movement.
Even so, Chavez's party won enough votes to reassure him of the popularity of his programs and his takeovers of foreign companies.
"This confirms the construction of Bolivarian socialism in Venezuela. Now we must extend and deepen it," said Chavez in a subdued speech on Sunday where he claimed victory.
He may nationalize more companies in the next months or revive a stalled program of seizing large farms considered idle. He will continue to weave close ties with countries like Russia and Iran in a strategy to lessen U.S. influence. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits Caracas on Wednesday.
This year, Chavez clawed his way back to approval ratings of about 60 percent after losing a December referendum on extending his powers and doing away with term limits.
The man opponents call a dictator consistently accepts negative electoral results, but critics say the concentration of power in his hands weakens Venezuela's democracy.
Chavez desperately wants to run again in 2012 and has made no secret of his ambition to stay in power for decades.
Sunday's results give the opposition more ground to campaign against reforms allowing his reelection, but Chavez insists he won and will try to build momentum for a new referendum on the issue.
"I'M A FIGHTER"
Venezuela is heavily dependent on oil exports. A collapse in crude prices in recent months has not yet been felt on the streets but could start to hurt Chavez's popularity with voters who have felt the benefits of his distribution of oil wealth.
Political scientist Steve Ellner, who wrote "Rethinking Venezuelan Politics" on the Chavez movement, says the president will need to act quickly if he hopes to modify the law.
"Venezuela hasn't felt the world financial situation but it will," Ellner said. "If he has the intention of modifying the constitution to allow him to run in 2012 he'll probably act right away."
While Chavez is not adverse to a challenge, the loss of Venezuela's key cities, along with inner city slums such as Petare in Caracas will be particularly bitter for him.
Slum residents have long been the most fervent Chavez supporters, pouring down from hillside homes to successfully demand his return when he was briefly ousted in a 2002 coup.
But soaring murder rates and garbage rotting on street corners mean city residents come face to face daily with the reality of bad local governance under many Chavez allies.
The opposition could now prove it can do a better job in the capital and its sprawling suburbs ahead of legislative elections in 2010 and the presidential vote in 2012.
They will not have and easy ride. Chavez's Socialist Party won the most votes in the election and he will use the strong central government to limit opponents' success.
He may drag his feet on budget payments to opponents' states or city halls, and will push his development plans and public works through regional officials he appoints.
"I am a fighter. Right from when I was a kid, I learned to fight," Chavez said after casting his vote on Sunday.
