Mr Farage wants to build a powerbase in local government to help win seats at Westminster at the 2015 general election.

BBC: Local elections: Farage predicts UKIP breakthrough

In the former East Germany, far from the country's football powerbase, one lowly team's fortunes are being transformed by Austrian soft drink company Red Bull's takeover.

CNN: SHARE THIS

All the spin doctoring in the world cannot hide the fact that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been deprived of a huge part of his powerbase by Tony Blair.

BBC: Blair weakens Prescott powerbase

As someone who occupies the centre ground among the senior figures in Mr Chavez's powerbase, analysts say he may be able to hold together the various factions such as the military and those groups more ideologically driven.

BBC: Profile: Nicolas Maduro

After the general elections, in which the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition kept its two-thirds parliamentary majority but UMNO saw its ethnic-Malay powerbase seriously eroded by the Islamist Pas, UMNO morale plummeted and doubts grew about the party leadership.

CNN: No More Mr. Nice Guy