[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela 'landslide' for Chavez [ EU verified ]***Parties allied to President Hugo Chavez say they have won all 167 seats in the country's parliament, after elections boycotted by the opposition. None of the five main opposition parties took part, accusing the electoral body of bias.

Only about 25% of registered voters cast a ballot.

A two-thirds majority in parliament will allow Mr Chavez to remove the current constitutional limit of two presidential terms in office.

But the opposition says the low turnout deprives the election of legitimacy.

"Venezuela is speaking with its silence," said Julio Borges, a prominent opposition member. ...............***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez's Party Vows to Hasten Social Change***CARACAS, Venezuela Dec 5, 2005 — Supporters of President Hugo Chavez vowed Monday to accelerate Venezuela's shift to a "new socialism" after claiming victory in elections that were expected to give pro-Chavez politicians all 167 seats in the National Assembly.

Several of Venezuela's major opposition parties boycotted the vote on Sunday, which had an estimated turnout of 25 percent and is likely to further polarize Venezuelan society. The country has been deeply divided by the leftist leader's rhetoric, his alliance with the Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his efforts to seize unproductive farms for poor farmers, start state-funded cooperatives and expand social programs for the poor.

"Silence united Venezuelans," said Gerardo Blyde of Justice First, one of several leading opposition parties that pulled out days before the vote, complaining the voting system could not be trusted. ............***