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Polls close in Venezuela local election Ruling party ahead in Venezuela's local elections
(35 minutes later)
Polls have officially closed in Venezuela after local elections seen as a key test for President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's governing United Socialist Party has won the greatest share of the vote in Sunday's local elections, the National Electoral Council says.
Mr Maduro narrowly won a presidential election in April to replace Hugo Chavez who had died from cancer. With most votes counted, the USP has 49% while the opposition has about 43%.
The opposition were ahead in most of the larger cities, including the capital, Caracas, while the governing party won in rural areas.
The elections have been seen as a key test for President Nicolas Maduro, who replaced the late Hugo Chavez in April.
Since November, Mr Maduro has been ruling by decree, promising to tackle corruption and control price rises.Since November, Mr Maduro has been ruling by decree, promising to tackle corruption and control price rises.
The opposition accuses him of failing to deal with crime, inflation and a shortage of basic goods.The opposition accuses him of failing to deal with crime, inflation and a shortage of basic goods.
The electoral authorities say they have received data from more than 90% of the polling stations and are due to release preliminary results in the coming hours.
The National Electoral Council said the voting went smoothly but some problems have been reported.
The BBC's Irene Caselli in the capital, Caracas, says local elections are usually low key, but this one was filled with expectations for the government and the opposition.The BBC's Irene Caselli in the capital, Caracas, says local elections are usually low key, but this one was filled with expectations for the government and the opposition.
Voters were electing mayors to 337 municipalities and officials to more than 2,000 city councils.Voters were electing mayors to 337 municipalities and officials to more than 2,000 city councils.
The opposition currently controls about 50 municipalities but hopes to double that number. The opposition won mayoral races in the capital, Caracas, and the country's second city. Maracaibo. They also won the capital of Barinas, from where former President Chavez hailed.
Most polls show the government coalition is likely to win in a majority of municipalities. So far, the USP has won in 196 of the municipalities being contested, while the opposition took 53, and independents another eight. The remainder have yet to be declared.
But what is less clear is whether it will be able to maintain control of Caracas and Maracaibo - Venezuela's two largest cities. President Maduro called the results a "grand victory", telling supporters at a rally in Caracas that "the Bolivarian Revolution continues now with more strength".
As polling started, President Maduro reminded Venezuelans in a tweet to celebrate "a day of loyalty and love towards Chavez and the Motherland". The opposition's failure to win a majority of the votes cast or significantly increase the number of municipalities under its control from the 46 won in the 2008 local elections was a disappointment to its leader Henrique Capriles.
"I did everything humanly possible," he said. "Remember that Venezuela does not have a single owner. A divided country needs dialogue."
Sunday's elections coincided with the anniversary of Hugo Chavez's famous speech in which he announced that his cancer had returned and named Mr Maduro as his preferred successor.Sunday's elections coincided with the anniversary of Hugo Chavez's famous speech in which he announced that his cancer had returned and named Mr Maduro as his preferred successor.
Although 19 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote, turnout was expected to be low.
Mr Maduro was granted special powers to rule by decree for a year to deal with Venezuela's economic crisis.Mr Maduro was granted special powers to rule by decree for a year to deal with Venezuela's economic crisis.
Since then he has legislated on the prices of electronics, toys, clothes, and new and second-hand cars.Since then he has legislated on the prices of electronics, toys, clothes, and new and second-hand cars.
The opposition says the government's left-wing policies are keeping foreign investment away and hurting the economy.The opposition says the government's left-wing policies are keeping foreign investment away and hurting the economy.