MEXICO, December 6. /TASS/. Elections will be held in Venezuela on Sunday, which will result in the new composition of the country’s unicameral National Assembly. The list of voters in the country with the population of over 30 million people includes nearly 19,4 million citizens. About 14,000 polling stations will open in the Bolivarian Republic. Enhanced security measures have been put in place, a ban was imposed on alcohol sale, bearing cold steel and fire arms and the use of fireworks.
The parliamentary elections will take place against the backdrop of the protracted socio-economic crisis, which has intensified markedly over the past 18 months due to the falling oil prices. Besides, rampant crime in the fight against which the country’s law enforcement agencies have failed to show positive results, has triggered serious dissatisfaction of the population. According to the authorities, 39 murders per 100,000 people are committed in Venezuela. On the other hand, the Observatorio Venezolano de Violencia non-governmental organization noted that nearly 25,000 murders - 82 per 100,000 people - had been committed in the country last year.
The discontent of citizens may play into the hands of the opposition Democratic Unity coalition and allow it, for the first time in many years, to achieve serious success at the national elections. According to a recent poll conducted by the Datanalisis private company, about 58% of those who will take part in the elections intend to support the opposition and only 26,2% are going to cast their votes for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and its allies in the coalition. It should be noted that the results of this survey have been presented by Henrique Capriles, the former presidential candidate from the opposition forces.
However, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro does not have the slightest doubt that the followers of late President Hugo Chavez will win the elections. "On December 6, 17 years after the first victory of Commander Hugo Chavez, we will secure 10 million votes," Maduro said speaking on Thursday at the final rally during the pre-election campaign.
Both local and foreign observers will be monitoring the elections, among them are representatives of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAK). In addition to law enforcement officers, 163,000 soldiers and officers of the armed forces will be involved in efforts to ensure security.