Maduro's ruling Socialist Party wins control of Venezuela legislature

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's ruling party has won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections, further consolidating his grip on the Latin American country's power institutions.

According to Press TV, the opposition, led by US-backed figure Juan Guaido, had urged their supporters to boycott the vote.

However, despite the partial boycott by the opposition bloc, Venezuelans turned out to vote for Maduro and his left-wing allies in Sunday's legislative elections.

National Electoral Council President Indira Alfonzo said Maduro and his ruling Socialist Party allies gained 67.7 percent of the vote with over 80 percent of the ballots counted.

The anti-Maduro opposition bloc, which broke the boycott, gained 18 percent of the vote.

With this victory, Maduro's ruling Socialist Party will consolidate its control over an expanded 227-seat National Assembly.

Maduro told reporters after casting his vote in Caracas that the time had come to end the opposition's domination of the National Assembly.

The Venezuelan president held the legislative body responsible for "the plague of sanctions, cruelty, pain and suffering" inflicted on the impoverished population of the country. 

Maduro called on the opposition to join in "with one voice, to force the new US government of Joe Biden to lift all the sanctions." 

On Saturday, Maduro met with heads of foreign delegations invited to Venezuela to monitor and ensure the legitimacy and fairness of the crucial elections.

ME