Venezuelan poll: defeat conceded

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33408, 14 December 1973, Page 9

Venezuelan poll: defeat conceded

(.V.Z.P.4-Reuter — Copyrigh

CARACAS, December 13,

The governing Christian Democrats have officially conceded defeat to the Opposition Democratic Action Party in \ enezuela's General Election.

* tj Their Presidential candin date, Mr Lorenzo Fernandez, 0 has sent a telegram to his opponent, Mr Carlos Andres ' Perez, congratulating him on f his triumph in the polling last r Sunday. r The message was received n as the official returns gave diMr Andres Perez a landslide ti victory with half of the 4 IJ million-odd votes scrutinised. :! Officials released the conA cession telegram just before the new President-elect, who - will rule Venezuela for the - next five years, was due to s;give a press conference. !1| Mr Jose Vicente Rangel, of A the Movement for Socialism, -jwas a poor third. •: Although the vote-counting ? for Congressional seats is l proceeding much more

■ slowly, the Democratic Ac , tion Party also holds a com ; fortable lead in that polling, and thus appears assured of a solid majority in both Houses. The latest returns show jthat Democratic Action 'polled 750,322 votes in the i Congressional election; th_e Christian Democrats, 527.935; the Movement for Socialism. 102,913; and the Left-wing ■ New Force Party, 71,990. ■ The returns indicate that ■. .Venezuela is heading for a two-party parliamentarc' system. President Rafael Caldera, , 'who became Venezuela’s first ■Christian Democrat President yin 1969. is due to hand the i , reins of office to the newlyi elected President next March.