Caracas, October 19 (RHC)-- Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez presided over a special session of the political body to swear in candidates who won Sunday's gubernatorial election.  In direct reference to the U.S. "empire," Rodriguez proclaimed that "aggression, sanctions and blockades that pretend to break the will of the people of Venezuela will fail." 

Rodriguez continued by saying that “today is a day of victory for the people,” adding that Sunday's gubernatorial election “marks a new spirit" because "Venezuelans want to live in peace."  Accompanied by Tibisay Lucena, president of the National Electoral Council, CNE, she emphasized that the ANC, vigilant of the will of each citizen, participated in election audits to confirm the lack of foul play. 

This transparent, public accountability measure has been established by the Organic Law of Electoral Processes.  Article 4 of the law states that "the National Electoral Council, as the governing body and highest authority of the Electoral Power, shall exercise the direction, conduct, supervision and control of electoral processes." 

In that vein, Rodriguez reiterated Venezuela's robust voting audits, mechanisms that have been hailed by the Council of Electoral Experts in Latin America, the Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America and even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.  "There is no room for fraud,” unlike claims made by opposition leader Gerardo Blyde, Rodriguez said, adding that even “parties on the right endorsed all audits." 

She went on to say that a “rebirth of Bolivarianism” transpired with Sunday's election results.  "The president of the Bolivarian Republic, Nicolas Maduro, defeated the leaders of the empire with his leadership. This election represented a new chapter for the country, a renewed hope for the Venezuelan people."  She concluded that the democratic victory sent an emphatic message to the international community. 

The governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the PSUV, won 18 of 23 governorships.  The five opposition candidates who won Sunday's elections in their respective states refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday.