User:Xavexgoem/ChavezPoll

Polls have closed across Venezuela on Sunday. The polls, which elect in several executive and legislative across cities and states, is considered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's opponents and supporters as a potentially important political gain or loss since Chavez's failed constitutional referendums last year.

One of the year-old referendums would have allowed the President of Venezuela to be re-elected indefinitely, which was narrowly defeated in late 2007. So it comes as no surprise that Chávez's supporters and opponents alike regard the new poll as a test of the President's standing within the citizenry.

Among his supporters, he is regarded as a populist for turning the nation's massive oil wealth into capital for schools, hospitals, and subsidized food. Among his opponents, he is regarded as a dictatorial and ineffective leader.

There are truth to both sides, of course, but times are tough: with the diving price of oil, the Venezuelan economy -- whose economy is 50% oil-based -- is taking a beating, and the nation's inflation rate is the highest in South America. The murder rate in the country is also the highest within South America. Despite many supporters' adoration of Chávez, it has become apparent that there are some promises he didn't keep.

It remains to be seen what the results of the poll are. But as Chávez refers to the mayors and governors up for election as "my friends", it's apparent that this is as much about local politics as the President himself.