News / Venezuela

Venezuelans vote in legislative elections

Sunday, 06 December 2015 1:23 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 06 December 2015 2:47 PM ]

People register to cast their vote at a polling station during a legislative election, in Caracas December 6, 2015. (Reuters Photo)

People in Venezuela are voting in congressional elections, with opinion polls pointing to a win for opposition in the South American country.

Polling stations opened at 6:00 am local time (1030 GMT) on Sunday with voters casting their ballots to elect 167 National Assembly members.

Polls will close at 18:00 local time. The results are expected to be announced around 22:00.

A nation-wide survey by pollsters Datanalisis and Venebarometro showed that a coalition of opposition parties, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, will win the majority of votes.

The opposition’s victory could bring about shift in the country’s political system. The opposition accuses President Nicolas Maduro’s Socialist Party of mismanaging the economy and leading the oil-rich country to poverty.

People wait to cast their vote in a polling station in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 6, 2015. (AFP photo)

Anti-government politicians have said they are frustrated with the ruling party’s policies. The opposition claims that its supporters and activists have been intimidated during campaign events in recent weeks. Officials deny any involvement, saying their foes are seeking to discredit the government.

Venezuela is currently facing shortages of basic supplies like rice, sugar, cooking oil, milk and coffee.

President Maduro has urged Venezuelans to support his ruling party, saying vote for the opposition would reinstate US influence in their country and end the popular state-subsidized welfare program.

"They say they're winning in the polls - it's the same story of the last 17 years. Let them win in the polls, we will win in the streets,” Maduro said at an election campaign.

The Socialists have been in power since late President Hugo Chavez took office in 1999. He was succeeded by Maduro, a former foreign minister, in 2013. Maduro’s presidential term runs until 2019, unless the opposition coalition could secure a big majority and force him out by constitutional means.

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