Latin America Closely Watching Venezuela Vote

The late President Hugo Chavez won wide notice with his charismatic persona as he imposed what he referred to as a 21st century socialist revolution greater than a decade ago.—CURRENT GOVERNMENT: The election is the stiffest electoral challenge still for the socialist administration, which controls all major institutions, together with the National Meeting, Supreme Courtroom & Electoral Council. As Venezuelans get ready to vote on December 6, in congressional elections, polls show the opp…

Venezuelans are stockpiling food and putting off plans as the South American country brims with excitement and dread ahead of today’s elections, which could hand the opposition control of congress for the first time since 1998.

Venezuela may have the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but its oil hit a seven-year low of $34.05 a barrel this week.

In fact, writes economist David Rosnick, Venezuela’s electoral system is not based on the national vote.

But support for President Nicolas Maduro’s rule, a good proxy in deeply polarized Venezuela, recently jumped 11 points, to 32 percent in late November, according to a survey by respected local pollster Datanalisis. This year’s slump in oil revenues, which fund nearly all public spending, has worsened the economic situation. Opposition leaders warn a loss would amount to proof that the government committed voter fraud.

Venezuela has invited election monitors from regional body Unasur but has rejected those from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union.

However, a two-thirds majority, which according to projections seems unlikely, would give the opposition the ability to dismiss cabinet ministers as well as organise a “recall referendum” on Maduro, whose term ends in early 2019.

The paper simulates – based on the 2010 election results – the 2015 election under various assumptions regarding the government’s share of the vote and the degree to which the opposition is fractured among different coalitions. The socialist party has often touted its unbroken chain of electoral victories over the past 17 years to defend itself against allegations that it’s undemocratic.

Exeni told teleSUR the mission has have more than 40 personnel positioned in voting stations across the country. I’d take to the street with the people. And that means even if opposition parties out poll the ruling party and its coalition partners on the national level, that does not necessarily mean it will win a majority of the assembly’s 165 seats.

During the campaign, the government drew criticism from the US and other governments for tactics that appeared to tilt the playing field, including barring high-profile opposition leaders from running and printing a confusing ballot with a mysterious party listed next to the opposition coalition with a almost identical logo and name.

“We’re going to be very closely watching”, spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.