Youthful state governor Henrique Capriles celebrated yesterday after a decisive victory in Venezuela’s first opposition primary enabled him to challenge President Hugo Chavez in an October election.

“With 95 per cent of votes counted, Capriles won 1.8 million votes” ahead of his closest competitor, governor Pablo Perez, with 867,000 votes, commission president Teresa Albanes said, noting that 2.9 million votes were cast in a first-ever primary to pick a unity candidate.

Analysts had said a turnout of just 10 per cent of the 18 million eligible voters would be seen as a success, indicating voters were keen to be heard.

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