Sao Paulo (Brazil): Brazil's ruling party lost its chance to retake control of South America s biggest city, while an ex-guerrilla who once kidnapped a US ambassador failed in his bid to become mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
Incumbent Sao Paulo Mayor Gilberto Kassab of the conservative Democrat Party easily won re-election in a second round of voting, beating Marta Suplicy of the Workers Party by 21 percentage points.
Suplicy, a former Sao Paulo mayor and a former tourism minister, lost the key race despite the outspoken support of popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
"Now it's up to the people of Sao Paulo to make sure the new mayor will keep his campaign promises," Suplicy said.
Suplicy's defeat gives Silva's Workers Party an added challenge to get his successor elected in the 2010 presidential race, as mayors are seen as powerful vote gatherers in general elections.
Kassab won with the support of Silva's political rival Jose Serra, Sao Paulo's governor. Serra is widely expected to run for president in 2010.
"I dedicate this victory to him (Serra)," Kassab said. "This alliance gained force. It's an alliance that works in the country's main city, in the country's main state. There is no reason it can't work nationally."
Despite the loss in Sao Paulo, the Workers Party put in a strong showing in first-round voting October 5, winning the municipal elections in more than 135 cities, including some state capitals.
With all votes counted in Rio de Janeiro, former guerrilla Fernando Gabeira, of the Green Party, lost to Eduardo Paes by less than two percentage points in the runoff for the mayorship of Brazil's second-largest city.
