CARACAS, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that he would "stay in office until people do not wantit."

    "I will give my life for the hope of people," Chavez told a mass gathering in the capital celebrating the ratification of his victory in the Aug. 15 recall referendum.

    "For the first time, people have a government of theirs," Chavez said in reference to the past biparty system "of corruption that ignored the poor," who represent 80 percent of the 24 million Venezuelans.

    The country's National Electoral Council (CNE) on Thursday confirmed that Chavez survived the recall bid with 59.25 percent of the votes.

    Chavez urged his supporters to unite in the face of the coming regional elections for mayors and governors.

    The CNE has announced that the elections would go ahead in late October, although the ruling party expressed its wish to hold them on Sept. 26.

    "The goal is that we win all the governorships and mayoralties of the country," Chavez said. Enditem