Venezuela: Massive turnout and great expectations for the results of the elections

Venezuela, October 7, 2012

Venezuelans participated massively in the elections that will define the next president of the Republic for the period 2013-2019. Both Henrique Capriles and Hugo Chavez were committed to respect the results.

The elections have generated great expectations, a factor that is expressed in thousands of Venezuelans who formed long queues at polling places waiting their turn to vote. Chavez was the first of the leaders to vote after noon. There he attended with his two daughters and his grandson.

After voting, he told to the reporters that “either by one vote or three million votes we are responsible political actors and should bound to recognize the results.”

“You shouldn’t have the slightest doubt that we will recognize the results and whatever that is unprecedented,” he added.

Meanwhile, Capriles voted around 2:37 pm local time, in the municipality of Baruta, where he was mayor for two terms.

In his media statement, said “the first person I’m going to call after the results are given is the president of the Republic because Venezuelans are setting an example, leaders have to set an example as well.”

The centers opened at 6:00 am local time (10:30 am GMT) and will close at 6:00 pm (10:30 pm GMT) but everything will depend on the way these last hours of voting.

After the polls closed, it will wait for a period of two hours before the National Electoral Council disseminate the results.