Parliamentary elections are taking place in Venezuela, with polls suggesting supporters of President Hugo Chavez will extend their majority. Five opposition parties are boycotting the vote, saying it will not be fair, and called for voters to stay away. Mr Chavez has condemned the boycott as a Washington-backed plot to destabilise his regime - a charge the US rejected.
His allies need a strong win in order to change the law limiting the number of times a president can serve. | El Jefe for life, that's what they're aiming at |
The left-wing Mr Chavez's allies currently hold 89 of the single chamber National Assembly's 167 seats and are aiming to extend their majority.
About 14.5 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote, although correspondents are predicting a low turnout. The National Electoral Council said 556 out of 5,500 candidates have pulled out of the congressional vote. Opposition leaders accused the electoral body of favouring pro-government candidates. Mr Chavez denounced the boycott calling it an attempt to destabilise his government and urged Venezuelans to turnout in force. | Yep - if you don't vote for me it isn't democracy. |
"Those non-participating minorities ... are trying to lay the groundwork for destabilisation, and aggression against Venezuela," said Mr Chavez. He insisted that "there is no political crisis here, as they want to make it seem".
The government has deployed thousands of soldiers nationwide to maintain order during the vote. Three small explosive devices were detonated at a government office and an army base in Caracas, on Friday. No-one has claimed responsibility for the incidents, but the government described it as an attempt to "disturb" the voting process.
The poll with be monitored by observers from the EU and the Organisation of American States. |