As the election results were announced, fireworks exploded over the city. The opposition won in most of the Caracas slums ( previously chavista bastions) and the five most important and populous states - this despite Chávez's pre-election threats to imprison opposition candidates and militarily occupy those areas that voted for them. Now Chávez is sounding more conciliatory and speaking of respecting the will of the people. But he is still very much in power. Chavistas still control the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, the federal bureaucracy and every state company. In Barinas, Chávez's home state, his older brother Adán narrowly won the governorship, replacing their father and continuing a political dynasty that has long been plagued by accusations of corruption and abuse of power.

The political map is more mottled. Although chavista red still dominates, the more modern parts of the country have clearly voted for change. And this could be Chávez's unintentional political legacy - greater political participation and inclusion for all. "Venezuelans never used to care about politics," said my sister-in-law. "Since Chávez, it's all they talk about."

Never again will the wealthy be vilified in such simplistic terms; putschists, strikes and class violence have also lost their lustre. Venezuelans want to work together and live peacefully in a just socioeconomic and political system. And that, more than anything else, will spell the end of Chávez and his protégés and the start of a true participatory democracy.