Venezuelan voters cast their ballots in elections on Sunday in what appears to be the toughest political challenge for incumbent President Hugo Chavez during his entire tenure in office.
Chavez, who was elected in 1998, is facing a strong challenge from fresh-faced opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, 40, who has promised to restore economic growth if elected.
Voter turnout is expected to be significant. Tibisay Lucena, the head of the National Electoral Council, told Telesur television that “we are very pleased and very happy” with the turnout thus far.
“The voting is very easy and very fast ... and is working efficiently,” she added.
Marciana Udria, 24, of Caracas, told the Miami Herald: “People are excited this year, because this time there might be a possibility of change.”
“The only president I’ve ever really known is Chavez,” she said.
Despite battling with cancer, Chavez has said that he has no intention of losing the election. If he takes it, he will remain in office until 2020.
But he said that he would respect the outcome of the polls if Capriles wins.
“We have to prepare ourselves emotionally…to accept tomorrow’s results,” he said on Saturday, according to the Herald. “No one’s world is going to end.”
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