Venezuela opposition takes parliament

Venezuela's political opposition won a majority of seats in Sunday's national assembly elections, taking control of the legislative branch for the first time since President Hugo Chávez rose to power in 1999.

The democratic unity roundtable (MUD) won 99 seats to 46 from the ruling PSUV party, said the national electoral court, with 22 seats yet to be decided. The opposition estimates it will win 113 seats, which would give it a two-thirds majority, enough to call a constituent assembly to reform the constitution and reduce the presidential term.

The new 167-member assembly takes power in January with a five-year term.

"We are here, with morals and ethics, to recognize these adverse results," President Nicolás Maduro said in a speech to the nation, although he blamed his defeat on a campaign by business leaders and other opponents to sabotage the economy. "The economic war has triumphed today." .

"We're going through the worst crisis in our history," MUD coalition head Jesús Torrealba said. "Venezuela wanted a change and that change came ... a new majority expressed itself and sent a clear and resounding message."

The election took place amid a backdrop of record inflation, a scarcity of basic goods, rising crime and a crackdown on political opposition leaders who have called for protests or criticized Maduro.

A Pew Research Center poll released in the past week revealed that 85% of Venezuelans are dissatisfied with the country's direction.