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| Venezuela votes in tense congressional elections | Venezuela votes in tense congressional elections |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| People in Venezuela are voting in congressional elections that are seen as the first serious challenge to the governing socialists in 17 years. | 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. |
| Analysis: Wyre Davies, BBC News, Caracas | |
| Just in case they had missed all the pre-election publicity and coverage, residents in the capital were woken at 05:00 by a series of alarms and sirens to remind them of their civic duty. | |
| Voting was brisk, both in areas regarded as pro-government and in others leaning towards the opposition. Many voters who came out early proudly held up their little fingers, stained with purple dye, to show they had already voted. | |
| Although the voting process itself, which is largely electronic, is widely regarded to be clean, the ruling socialist party, in particular, has repeatedly been accused of bending election rules. There was some evidence of that in Caracas, with pro-government posters and some supporters outside a polling station in Bellas Artes. This is not usually allowed. But there has been no sign of intimidation or fraud and, thus far, the national election council says things are running smoothly and correctly. | |
| Venezuelans are well used to queuing for hours in long lines for basic goods as the economic crisis deepens. Waiting patiently to vote in these nationwide Congressional elections is one thing they don't mind queuing for. | |
| Oil row may damage President Maduro | |
| Venezuelan healthcare in collapse as economy ails | |
| Is Venezuela's economy on the brink? | |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| Key facts | |
| 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. |