Venezuela Ruling Party Sweeps Vote, Cementing One-Party Rule

President Nicolás Maduro said his ruling socialist party won a majority of mayorships in Sunday’s local elections, solidifying its hold on power and pushing Venezuela further into one-party rule.

Maduro said the socialist party secured victories in 285 out of 335 mayoral races in a speech following the results in downtown Caracas. In an initial bulletin on Sunday the electoral authorities said 82.5% of votes had been counted but final results were still pending.