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Opposition supporters have been celebrating their side’s victory
Venezuelan electoral authorities have confirmed that the opposition has won a key two-thirds majority, enabling it to challenge President Nicolas Maduro.
The opposition said it would work to release jailed opposition leaders and address the country’s economic crisis.
Mr Maduro has announced a cabinet reshuffle but vowed to veto any amnesty law for jailed politicians.
The election result is the worst for the Socialist movement founded by late leader Hugo Chavez in 1999.
The majority means the Democratic Unity coalition can now make sweeping changes, including calling a possible referendum on Mr Maduro’s leadership.
It also wants the release of one of its leaders, Leopoldo Lopez, who was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence – a charge critics say was politically motivated.
But Mr Maduro said he would block any amnesty law.
“The murderers have to be prosecuted and have to pay,” he said in a televised address.
He said his Socialist Party would hold an “extraordinary congress” to find out what went wrong at the election.
The opposition meanwhile warned of looming food shortages for Venezuelans.
“We urge the government to stop crying and start working,” opposition leader Jesus Torrealba said.
“We’re just a few weeks away from a very serious problem in terms of food,” he added.
The elections were widely seen as a referendum on President Maduro, the handpicked successor of Hugo Chavez, and the governing PSUV’s socialist policies.
The opposition accused Mr Maduro’s party of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country’s oil wealth.
Venezuela has been hit hard by the continuing low price of oil, its main export. It also has the continent’s highest inflation rate.
Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an “economic war” waged by the opposition.
The opposition also accused the government of increasing authoritarianism.
BBC