Caracas shifts; Libertador sticks with PSUV

Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): If the opposition was looking for victory, it had to go no further than Metropolitan Caracas. Antonio Ledezma had been a late choice as the opposition's unity candidate for Metropolitan mayor, and went on to beat former minister Aristobulo Isturiz of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) by 52.40 percent of the votes to 44.97 percent, according to latest figures from the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Minutes after learning that he'd won, Ledezma sent a message to President Hugo Chavez recognizing they'd had differences but emphasizing this wasn't the moment for them. He "invited" the president "to work together to rescue Caracas."

However, Ledezma also said he would be out looking for funds for the city. Chavez has threatened to reduce or cut federal funding for states and municipalities that turn against him. Carlos Ocariz of the opposition beat minister Jesse Chacon (of telecommunications and before that interior and justice) by 53.270 percent to 44.97 percent. He said it was time to turn the political page and start work.

Preliminary results had former vice president Jorge Rodriguez retaining PSUV control of Libertador municipality in the west by 53.05 percent against 41.92 percent for student leader Stalin Gonzalez.