Hugo Chavez Re-Elected in Venezuela

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves a Venezuelan flag while speaking to supporters after receiving news of his reelection in Caracas on October 7, 2012. According to the National Electoral Council, Chavez was reelected with 54.42% of the votes, beating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, who obtained 44.97%. (Juan Barreto/AFP/GettyImages)

CARACAS, Venezuela—President Hugo Chavez was elected for another term that will see him rule the country until 2019.

The results from Sunday’s elections were welcomed by the followers of Chavez’s Bolivarian Revolution.

“I can’t describe the relief and happiness I feel right now,” Edgar Gonzalez, a 38-year-old construction worker, told AP.

But the news came as a heavy blow for those who have been waiting 14 years for a change in presidency. Social tensions remain high between both groups, and there is a notable amount of frustration in the followers of Chavez’s main rival, Henrique Capriles. 

“If Capriles lost, it is because of some wrongdoing, because if it were in a clean vote, he would win for sure,” voter Jannette Cabrera told Dunya News. 

Some refuse to wait six more years and are making plans to leave the country.

However, the percentage of Chavez’s votes appears to have declined since the previous election in 2006. 

According to the official numbers from the CNE (National Elections Council), Hugo Chavez won the current election with 54.66 percent of the votes (7,731,972 votes), with Capriles earning 44.73 percent (6,327,429 votes).

In the previous election, Hugo Chavez took 62.85 percent of the votes (7,309,080), while the then candidate of the opposition, Manuel Rosales, got 36.91 percent (4,292,466).

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