Chavez vs Capriles:Venezuelan presidential election result to impact foreign policy

Voting is underway in Venezuela to elect a a new president,around 19 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote for Sunday's presidential election in the tightly contested race between President Hugo Chavez and Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on all political parties to accept the result of presidential election,as he said the outcome "won't be the end of the world for anybody."

When asked whether he would relinquish power to the opposition if he were to lose, Chavez  said "Here the country is going to be the winner. The voice of the people will prevail , let's listen to the voice of the people and let's act based on that," the  president said, stressing that the election will be free and fair.

Foreign policy of  Chavez vs Foreign policy of  Capriles

The constitution was amended in 2009 to allow the president to seek multiple terms in office.

What would happen if Chavez wins , first --he will be get another six-year term in office that will enable him  to have a bigger role in the economy .

As far as the Foreign policy is concerned Chavez will remain allied  with countries like Iran , Russia  and China  as earlier  he defended former Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and has even offered his support for Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad.

But if  Capriles  wins than there will a  dramatic shift in  the  foreign policy, that is he will be dfifting  from Russia , Iran  and China .Will halt  the arms purchases from Russia and  rethink relations with Iran .

As far as the economic policy is concerned , he will revive the oil deals with other countries  and will increase private investment in his country.

The leftist-populist leader is facing the most formidable opponent in almost 14 years in power since he was first elected president in 1998, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, 40, who has surged in opinion polls but trailed by 10 points in the latest survey.


Chavez, 58, is looking to push ahead with policies that have seen the seizure of more than 1,000 companies by the state and the use of rising oil revenue to fund popular social programs. The economic model has lowered poverty rates, stoked inflation and driven away foreign investment.
Thus his economic model  has helped him to have loyal following among the country's poor which ultimately led him to easy victories in the past elections .

."I call on all political actors from the left, right and centre for us to prepare emotionally to accept Monday's result. It won't be the end of the world for anybody," Chavez said. "There are those who despair."

   
Capriles, 40, represents a moderate alternative and is a critic of the government's handling of the economy ,Capriles, a  former Miranda state governor, has vowed to unite the country, accusing Chavez of being "sick with power" and dividing the country.

He has promised  to create more private sector jobs, increase oil production  and  said he  will not to halt  the social programs initiated by  Chavez

Chavez has repeatedly accused the "far right" of plotting to not recognize the result if he wins. Alvarez, a former Argentine vice president, said he was "optimistic" that all political leaders would accept the result because everybody agrees that the electronic voting system is transparent and credible.A observer mission ie the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)  is attending the election.

Chavez, has rejected observers from the Washington-based Organisation of American States (OAS). He was furious the OAS recognised his non-elected would-be "replacement" in the middle of a failed 48-hour coup against him back in 2002.