Venezuela's opposition won control of the state legislature, electoral authorities said Monday, in a blow to the oil-rich country's socialist government that has held the congress for 16 years.
The broad, mostly center-right MUD coalition won a majority of 99 out of 167 seats in the state legislature, the head of the National Electoral Council , Tibisay Lucena, announced.
Socialist President Nicolas Maduro promptly appeared on television saying he accepted the defeat, a blow to his leadership during a dire economic crisis.
Hit by falling prices for the oil exports on which it relies, the country of 30 million is in an economic crisis, with families suffering shortages of basic foods and supplies.