Cuba's Castro consoles ally Maduro after Venezuela vote setback

For the first time since the 1990s, Venezuela's opposition party has captured the majority in the National Assembly. The 53-year-old Maduro, handpicked by Chavez but lacking his charisma and political guile, quickly accepted defeat in a speech to the nation in the early hours of Monday that calmed fears of violence in a country long riven by political strife. "Our votes managed to democratically defeat a government that is not democratic", Torrealba stated at his party venue. Hardliners pine for the release of Lopez, a U.S.-educated activist who led last year's street movement. The opposition victory deals a serious setback to the socialist revolution launched by Chavez, who until his death in 2013 had an almost-magical hold on Venezuela's long-excluded masses. Maduro recognized his party's loss and assured Venezuelans he will respect the results. "Venezuela won! Humility, serenity, maturity enabled the people to decide!" Sacred Heart. More…