The U.N. General Assembly has elected Venezuela as among the five new nonpermanent members of the Security Council for 2015-2016. Venezuela’s bid drew 181 votes from the 193-member General Assembly. The Bush administration helped defeat Venezuela’s last bid for the Security Council in 2006 after then-President Hugo Chávez pledged to be “the voice of the South” and challenge American dominance. This time, the Obama administration did not say how it voted in the secret ballot. But in a statement, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power said: “Unfortunately, Venezuela’s conduct at the U.N. has run counter to the spirit of the U.N. Charter and its violations of human rights at home are at odds with the Charter’s letter.” The Venezuelan government praised its winning bid as a “huge triumph” over a “malign campaign against our country.” The Council’s other new members are New Zealand, Spain, Angola and Malaysia.