Venezuela's ruling party wins 20 governorships - electoral authority

FILE PHOTO: A member of the Bolivarian National Guard takes pictures of the electoral materials during preparations for the regional and local elections on Sunday, in Caracas, Venezuela, November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) awarded victory to the ruling Socialist party in 20 governorships and three to opposition politicians in an initial announcement on Monday following local and regional elections.

Shortly after the first results were published, leftist President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the government's triumph.