Caracas: Venezuelans vote Sunday in tense elections that could see the opposition seize legislative power from the socialist government and which leaders fear may spark violence in the oil-rich, cash-poor nation.
With the country suffering from soaring inflation and poverty, a broad opposition coalition is vying to gain control of the National Assembly and force a change of course by anti-US leader Nicolas Maduro.
That could mark a potential political shift in the Latin American country of 30 million, which has the world's biggest oil reserves but also widespread poverty.
However, it could lead to political deadlock and even a repeat of riots that killed 43 people last year, analysts and political leaders warn.
After 16 years under late president Hugo Chavez and his handpicked successor Maduro, the vote is widely seen as a referendum on their economic policies.
"We will win!" Maduro bellowed at a rally this week, dismissing his opponents as "lazy and inept".
He and Chavez invested the country's vast oil wealth in projects to build homes, roads and schools.
But since the mustachioed former bus driver was elected after Chavez's death in 2013, the revolution has faltered as oil prices have plunged.
Families are suffering shortages of basic supplies such as flour and diapers. Soaring inflation has slashed their spending power.
Yankee imperialism
Surveys by Venezuelan pollsters Datanalisis and Venebarometro have indicated the broad opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, is likely to win a majority of the vote.
But it was unclear exactly how ballots would translate into seats under the system of electoral constituencies, which is considered to favor the government side.
Maduro's critics have accused him of rigging the system of voting districts in his favor. He has dismissed them as stooges of "Yankee imperialism".
International authorities have criticized Maduro for not letting foreign observers monitor the poll.
"What we all want is a clean and transparent election," said former Colombian president Andres Pastrana.
"We hope the opposition will publicly agree to accept the results peacefully," he added, after meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez.
Rodriguez vowed voting would go ahead normally.
"We are a few hours away from elections, with electoral authorities guaranteeing that the Venezuelan people will exercise their popular will," she said.
Polls were due to open at 1030 GMT and close at 2230 GMT. First results are not expected before 0230 GMT Monday.
Authorities said 19 million people are eligible to vote and thousands of soldiers will be deployed to keep order.
AFP
