Reply #48: Observers say Venezuela vote was fair

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, Dec. 06, 2005
Observers say Venezuela vote was fair
JORGE RUEDA
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - European observers said Tuesday that Venezuela's congressional elections were fair and transparent despite opposition claims of irregularities and a low voter turnout.

President Hugo Chavez's party and allies claimed to have swept Sunday's balloting after five opposition parties pulled out, saying they did not trust the electoral system. Partial, regional results issued so far showed candidates aligned with Chavez taking a commanding lead.

While official results were not yet in, ruling party lawmakers have said candidates of Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party won 114 seats and that allied parties won all the rest in the 167-member chamber.

Jose Silva, head of the European Union team, said the vote was clean and praised the elections council.

"For us, there was transparency in the electoral process," said Silva, who oversaw about 160 observers.
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http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/13344564.htm