President Nicolas Maduro was one the first to cast his vote this morning in Venezuela when the polls opened in a much debated presidential elections. 

20.526 millions of Venezuelan have the right to vote in this elections which will chose the president of the country for the next six years. 

In the end four candidates are contesting this election. President Maduro for the ruling party is seeking to be reelected, while the opposition goes divided and has  three candidates: retired military Henri Falcón, businessman and Protestant pastor Javier Bertucci and engineer Reinaldo Quijada. 

Fourteen of the 18 parties contesting the elections have signed an agreement of democratic guarantees that has pacified the electoral campaign, which developed normally within the framework of full freedom of expression, freedom of meeting. 

The election is being closely followed by international observers, among which are former Spanish President, Zapatero and politicians from all over the world. 

This election is taking place in a particularly adverse context, marked, internally, by chronic shortages and daily price rises, affecting the daily life of the citizens.

At the same time, society faces a strong political and ideological polarization, in favor or against the present Government lead by President Nicolas Maduro. 

A decline in income from the export of oil, the main economic income, and its impact on social policies, added to the numerous cases of corruption in the Administration, add up to other internal problems.

As to the external front, it must be emphasized that the offensive launched by  the forces of the oligarchic right in the area (forces which are traditionally allies of the United States), has resulted in a heavy harassment, with threats of external intervention under the justification of  being “humanitarian" interventions.

According to the first information reported by international observers, people are flocking to the polls in these early hours of the morning.