Latin America Leftists Congratulate Venezuelan Socialists on Election Win

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has received praise from across Latin America for Sunday's regional election where Socialists won 75 percent of the posts.

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“Congratulations Venezuela for democracy won over intervention and conspiracy. The people defend their sovereignty, dignity and natural resources,” Bolivian President Evo Morales tweeted in light of Maduro's socialist party, or PSUV, winning at least 17 out of 22 governorships

Morales' sentiment was shared by the heads of state of Cuba and Nicaragua.

Cuban President Raul Castro stated that Venezuela has provided the world with another “big lesson on peace, democratic vocation, courage and dignity.” He went on to note that the spirit of Chavez lives on, that “he and Fidel would be very proud of the victory” and the people of Venezuela can “always count on Cuba's support and solidairty.”

Meanwhile, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega released a statement congratulating Venezuelan families and the people for Sunday's victory. He characterized the win as a “heroic victory” given the “cruel economic, political, communication and cultural wars” waged against the Venezuelan people.

Latin America's former presidents also expressed their support, including Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa who tweeted: “Venezuela experienced a celebration of democracy. The Bolivarian Revolution amply won the gubernatorial elections.”

The ex-President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, released a public statement referring to Sunday's election as a “victory against the criminal attack campaigns orchestrated by the United States against a democratic people who seek dialogue and peace.”

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During a speech on election night, Maduro thanked his colleagues for expressing their support for the peaceful, well-organized election.

International guests observing the vote also praised the electoral process for its transparency. The Argentine journalist Pedro Bregier said he and his colleagues had seen no irregularities in the western state of Zulia, an observation echoed by his colleagues around the country.

The Ecuadorean representative of the Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America, CEELA, Alfredo Arevalo said: "It is one of the best electoral processes, audited many times by all parties and political actors."