Because of the opposition boycott, Sunday's National Assembly election saw pro-Chavez candidates take every one of the 167 seats in the National Assembly, and Chavez's own movement take 114 of those seats.

An immediate reaction might be that the opposition has shot itself in the foot - again. But that this is the outcome is not so certain. In fact it helps to create a very dangerous situation.

The whole opposition boycott, which Chavez is blaming Washington for inciting, is designed to de-legitimise the institutions of Venezuelan democracy, at least in the eyes if international public opinion. Whether Washington thought up the boycott or not - it is easily possible - it fits in with a growing campaign by the American media, echoed by Simon Tisdall in the UK Guardian, to portray Chavez as an undemocratic dictator who has crushed the oppositi0n using repressive methods.

In the presentsituation this is obviously part of campaign, co-ordinated between the Venezuelan opposition and its US sponsors, to villify and isolate the Bolivarian revolution, in preparation for decisive moves to overthrow it. Read:

Gregory Wilpert's report of the election outcome

Chavez blames washington for boycott

How and why Venezuelan opposition imploded

International observers confirm legitimacy and transparency of election

Guardian readers refute Simon Tisdall's attack on Chavez

Read James Petras assessment of post-election situation

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