Havana: Cuban President Raul Castro reiterated “unconditional” support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro one day after his party lost the legislative elections.
Castro said “Chavismo” fought hard at the polls, though the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable party won the elections by securing 99 of the 167 seats in the national assembly, as per reported.
“Dear Maduro. I followed, minute by minute, the extraordinary battle that you have fought and listened to your words with admiration. I am sure that there are new victories to come for the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution under your leadership,” Castro said in a letter on Monday.
This is the Bolivarian Revolution’s first electoral defeat after 17 years in power.
Maduro said he accepted the adverse results to the “moral and ethics of Chavismo”, but stressed “the constitution and democracy had triumphed”.
Maduro, who took office in April 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chavez, said the defeat was down to an “economic war” against the country, aimed at provoking dissatisfaction with his administration.
