Venezuela's socialist party risks unprecedented defeat
- 9 years ago
Venezuelans are stockpiling food and putting off plans as the South American country brims with excitement and dread ahead of elections that could hand the opposition control of congress for the first time since 1998.
The socialists currently hold 99 of Venezuela's 167 legislative seats but some estimates have the opposition coalition within grasping distance of a two-thirds majority, an outcome that would breathe life into threats to recall Chavez's heir, President Nicolas Maduro, and back up claims that his party's mandate is crumbling.
It's also possible government opponents could win the popular vote by a landslide, but fail to gain that super-majority due to a voting system that favors less populated rural districts over opposition-leaning urban areas.
Opposition leaders are warning that a loss Sunday could mean only that the government has committed vote fraud.
The socialists currently hold 99 of Venezuela's 167 legislative seats but some estimates have the opposition coalition within grasping distance of a two-thirds majority, an outcome that would breathe life into threats to recall Chavez's heir, President Nicolas Maduro, and back up claims that his party's mandate is crumbling.
It's also possible government opponents could win the popular vote by a landslide, but fail to gain that super-majority due to a voting system that favors less populated rural districts over opposition-leaning urban areas.
Opposition leaders are warning that a loss Sunday could mean only that the government has committed vote fraud.