Venezuela Election Updates: Venezuelans Head To The Polls Today (Sunday)

(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama) Venezuela election updates: Venezuelans head to the polls today (Sunday) in a presidential election in which voters are deciding between current President Nicolás Maduro or Political newcomer Edmundo González, the opposition powerhouse.
Edmundo González Urrutia, is a former ambassador who's never held public office.
He has been campaigning with María Corina Machado, a former lawmaker who was banned from being the opposition candidate. They have promised an Economy that will lure back the millions of Venezuelans who have left the country. Maria Corina Machado rode through the streets of Caracas greeting supporters. With voting underway, opposition candidate Edmundo González arrived to cast his vote. Venezuela's government is facing its toughest elector test in decades.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado
has been the star of the coalition campaign, despite a ban on her holding public office that forced her to pass the torch to candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, a 74-year-old ex-diplomat known for his calm demeanor.
Sunday's presidential election could give President Nicholas Maduro
another six years in power, or end the self-described socialist policies that once successfully boosted anti-poverty programs but whose sustained mismanagement later pushed the country into an ongoing economic crisis.
For years,
opposition politicians
boycotted elections they saw as rigged, but as the government's popularity has ebbed former rivals have banded together
in an attempt to
change the government at the ballot box. President Nicolás Maduro's
popularity has dwindled due to an economic crisis
that resulted from a drop in oil prices, corruption and government mismanagement.
More than 21 million Venezuelans are registered to vote, but the exodus of over 7.7 million people due to the prolonged crisis - including about 4 million voters - is expected to reduce the number of potential voters to about 17 million.

The opposition candidate
Edmundo González shown casting his vote, expressed his satisfaction with the massive presence of Venezuelans lined up since late Saturday night and Sunday morning at voting centers.
“Today more than ever Venezuelans are demonstrating that we are one people. What we see are lines of joy and hope. Today begins a day of reconciliation for all Venezuelans,” said González, surrounded by journalists, shortly after casting his vote.
“The democratic spirit of Venezuelans is more alive than ever, it's time for change,” added the ex-diplomat. If victorious, Gonzalez promised to create conditions for the almost 8 million Venezuelans to return to their home country
after fleeing compounding crises.
“We do not want more Venezuelans leaving the country, and for those who have left I tell them we will do everything possible for them to come back and welcome them with open arms,” he said.
“To all the Venezuelans around the world, your strength and commitment encourages us. We are one people in search of freedom,” he added.
“We do not want more Venezuelans leaving the country.” says Edmundo González.

Venezuelan President and candidate for re-election,
Nicolás Maduro, pictured above, said on Sunday that
he will respect the results of the elections issued at the end of the day by the National Electoral Council (CNE)
and called on his nine contenders to publicly commit to this issue.
Panama's President Mulino calls for peace in Venezuelan elections, as well as a 'free and scrutinized vote'.
Opposition leader González Urrutia is confident that the Venezuelan Armed Forces will enforce the election results.

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