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| Venezuela votes in tense congressional elections | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| People in Venezuela are voting in congressional elections that are seen as the first serious challenge to the governing socialists in 17 years. | |
| Opinion polls suggest a broad opposition coalition could capitalise on widespread frustration over food shortages, inflation and crime. | Opinion polls suggest a broad opposition coalition could capitalise on widespread frustration over food shortages, inflation and crime. |
| The governing PSUV, however, retains wide support in rural areas, and will continue to control the presidency. | The governing PSUV, however, retains wide support in rural areas, and will continue to control the presidency. |
| Voters will be electing all 167 National Assembly members. | Voters will be electing all 167 National Assembly members. |
| The BBC's Candace Piette says that even if the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable captures a majority in the assembly, its power will be limited. | The BBC's Candace Piette says that even if the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable captures a majority in the assembly, its power will be limited. |
| However, a win for the coalition - which includes centre-left and centre-right groups - could mark a potential political shift in the country, our correspondent adds. | However, a win for the coalition - which includes centre-left and centre-right groups - could mark a potential political shift in the country, our correspondent adds. |
| The elections are widely regarded as a referendum on President Nicolas Maduro, the handpicked successor of the late president Hugo Chavez, and the party's socialist policies. | The elections are widely regarded as a referendum on President Nicolas Maduro, the handpicked successor of the late president Hugo Chavez, and the party's socialist policies. |
| The opposition accuse the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country's oil wealth. | The opposition accuse the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country's oil wealth. |
| Mr Maduro says his party defends the interests of ordinary Venezuelans and wants to complete Mr Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution". | Mr Maduro says his party defends the interests of ordinary Venezuelans and wants to complete Mr Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution". |
| "They say they're winning in the polls - it's the same story of the last 17 years," Mr Maduro said at one election rally. "Let them win in the polls, we will win in the streets." | "They say they're winning in the polls - it's the same story of the last 17 years," Mr Maduro said at one election rally. "Let them win in the polls, we will win in the streets." |
| Key facts | Key facts |
| Oil row may damage President Maduro | Oil row may damage President Maduro |
| Venezuelan healthcare in collapse as economy ails | Venezuelan healthcare in collapse as economy ails |
| Is Venezuela's economy on the brink? | Is Venezuela's economy on the brink? |
| Among the concerns are chronic food shortages of staples - such as milk, rice, coffee, sugar, corn flour and cooking oil. | Among the concerns are chronic food shortages of staples - such as milk, rice, coffee, sugar, corn flour and cooking oil. |
| Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an "economic war" waged against his government by the opposition. | Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an "economic war" waged against his government by the opposition. |
| The opposition also accuses the government of increasing authoritarianism. | The opposition also accuses the government of increasing authoritarianism. |
| Earlier this year opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence - a charge critics say was politically motivated. | Earlier this year opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence - a charge critics say was politically motivated. |
| Venezuela has invited election monitors from regional body Unasur but has rejected those from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union. | Venezuela has invited election monitors from regional body Unasur but has rejected those from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union. |