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AMERICAS: Venezuela Election Loosens Chavez Power

The opposition party won at least one-third of the seats in the country's National Assembly, giving it the ability to block critical legislation and federal appointments and challenge President Hugo Chávez's 's grip on power (Guardian).

Venezuela's National Assembly elections are a referendum on President Chávez and a "proxy" for the 2012 presidential elections, says expert Michael McCarthy. They could also bolster opposition movements in countries like Bolivia and Ecuador.