VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez casts his vote in fiercely fought presidential race

Record ID: 327830

  • Title: VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez casts his vote in fiercely fought presidential race
  • Date: 8th October 2012
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 07, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ ARRIVING TO VOTE, DRIVING HIS OWN VEHICLE WOMAN WITH FLAG CHEERING PERSON HOLDING UP DOLL OF CHAVEZ CROWDS CHAVEZ WAVING TO CROWDS WOMAN SHOUTING CHAVEZ BLOWING KISSES TO CROWD
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7QD6T2D7N0WZU3KQJJVRYCCMB
  • Story Text: President Hugo Chavez voted on Sunday (October 07) in what has become his biggest election challenge in his 14-year socialist rule.
    Chavez is facing off against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
    Driving himself to his voting centre, Chavez greeted supporters as he arrived, blowing kisses to the crowd.
    After Chavez voted, he welcomed special guests, including former Colombian lawmaker Piedad Cordoba, Mayan rights activist Rigoberta Menchu and U.S. actor Danny Glover. He was also serenaded with song by a woman.
    Chavez told reporters that the elections should be respected.
    "Let's support the results and let's support the people and let's support this democracy and the Venezuelan republic will continue on its path of growth," he said.
    He also commented on the current crisis dogging European countries.
    "Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully the European countries - as well as the European leaders - manage to stop what we see from here as an implosion. This is very dangerous," Chavez said.
    Chavez also quoted former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
    "It was (former U.S. President) John (F.) Kennedy who said 'those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable'. John Kennedy said that. Maybe that is why they killed Kennedy," Chavez added.
    Earlier in the day, Chavez loyalists blew bugles in a wake up call for voters.
    Opposition governor, Henrique Capriles, has edged toward the still-popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigourous campaign that united the opposition and made him its best chance of ending the president's 14-year tenure.
    Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1030-2230 GMT), although polls will stay open later if there are still queues. Results are due any time starting late on Sunday evening.
    The electoral authority says it will only announce the results once there is an "irreversible trend".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register