17 December 2012 Last updated at 03:00 ET

Hugo Chavez allies win 20 of 23 Venezuela governorships

Henrique Capriles was re-elected governor of Miranda state

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's Socialist Party has increased the number of governorships it holds, winning 20 of the country's 23 states.

The opposition coalition held on to two key states, including Miranda, where Henrique Capriles was re-elected.

Sunday's poll took place amid uncertainty over the health of Mr Chavez, who is in Cuba recovering from cancer surgery.

Socialist Party leaders urged voters to turn out in support of the president.

However, the number of people voting was put at 53%, well down on the 80% turnout in October's presidential election.

Aides said Mr Chavez had been watching the election closely and had "resumed giving instructions and governing".

Chosen successor

The National Election Council said the Socialist Party, had won 20 governorships, two more than last time.

Analysis

Sarah Grainger BBC News, Caracas

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This was a win for President Chavez's Socialist Party. They not only increased the number of governorships they held from 18 to 20, but they took two key states from the opposition - Zulia, the cradle of the country's oil sector, and Carabobo, Venezuela's industrial heartland.

And all this while Hugo Chavez himself was largely absent from the campaign trail and the country.

Nevertheless, the opposition coalition has something to celebrate. Their poster boy, Henrique Capriles, held onto the governorship of Miranda state. Having lost in October's presidential polls to Hugo Chavez, he needed this win to revive his political career.

Now attention will be focused on the health of President Chavez. He is due to begin his new term in office in January but has talked of stepping down. If he does, that would trigger another election, the third for Venezuelans in less then five months.

The opposition retained Miranda and Lara states, the council added.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles won re-election as governor of Miranda state by defeating former Vice-President Elias Jaua.

Mr Capriles, candidate of a coalition of opposition parties, was defeated by Mr Chavez in October's presidential election.

Mr Chavez is due to be sworn in on 10 January for a fourth term in office.

Earlier this month, President Chavez said the cancer he hoped had been cured had in fact returned.

He underwent cancer surgery in Cuba last Tuesday - his fourth such operation since last year.

If his health fails in the first four years of his term, the Constitution states that a new election needs to be called in 30 days.

Mr Chavez has said that Vice-President Nicolas Maduro is his preferred successor.