Venezuela opposition leaders claim win in congressional elections

Reports said voting was brisk, both in areas regarded as pro-government and in others leaning towards the opposition.

Venezuelans headed to the polls for congressional elections Sunday under an unprecedented economic contraction that is likely to leave the opposition in control of the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years.

Mr Maduro however has ominously promised to take the fight “to the streets” should his United Socialist party of Venezuela (PSUV) lose the majority.

A nationwide survey in November by respected pollster Datanalisis estimates 55.6 percent of voters would back opposition candidates and only 36.8 percent the government.

“The question is what majority – is it three fifths or two thirds?” he said, adding that the margin of a potential victory was crucial for an already divided opposition that might find it hard to define future policies. Hernandez also emphasized that the voting in over 14,500 polling stations with 40,000 voting booths are being carried out in a peaceful atmosphere. Opposition leaders said that if their coalition failed to win, it would mean the state cheated. Venezuela itself has been slammed by low oil prices. But the opposition can seek a recall referendum next year by collecting about four million signatures.

As voting wound down, several ruling party governors were caught on film braving boos and insults as they entered their polling places, including Chavez’s brother Adan.

“This could be the beginning of the end for Maduro’s presidency, but I don’t think it’s the end of Chavismo”.

Polling places opened at 6:00 a.m. and will close at 6:00 p.m. across the South American country. A mounting backlash over stewardship of the economy is setting the scene for voters to hand the opposition the legislature, which has been under the control of the ruling Socialist party since the late Hugo Chavez first took power in 1999.

“The only hope to leave behind our social and economic crises comes from winning these elections and changing our country”, Marquez told Anadolu Agency.

Given the sweeping powers granted to the executive, Maduro’s grip on power would not be directly threatened even with a loss of the Assembly, experts say – and could even be a blessing in disguise for him.

President Nicolas Maduro had repeatedly vowed in recent weeks to take to the streets and defend the socialist system build by his mentor Chavez if his party lost, though on Sunday, he appeared to soften his tone.

“We have come with our morals and our ethics to recognize these adverse results, to accept them and to say to our Venezuela that the constitution and democracy have triumphed”, he said.

More than 19m registered voters will elect 167 representatives for the unicameral body, which is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government.

This story corrects that quote by Maduro made on Sunday not Saturday. A source within the anti-government camp told The Associated Press that the coalition believed it had won around 100 seats in the 167-seat legislature.

“Venezuela won”, former presidential Henrique Capriles celebrated on Twitter.

“It’s a historic victory, now begins the time for change in Venezuela!” he said to cheering supporters who chanted “Libertad, libertad” at the victory rally at MUD headquarters in Caracas.