Chavez or change in Venezuelan elections?

(Vatican Radio) The Venezuelan Presidential election campaign is kicking off with some political back-biting, as James Blears reports.

Listen:

Vice President Nicolas Maduro is currently fourteen points ahead in the opinion polls against main oppostion leader Henrique Capriles. Bolstered by the omnipresence of late President Hugo Chavez, who nominated him as his chosen successor, Maduro is calling himself his "son."

Capriles is accusing Maduro's campaign team of using State media to illegally bolster his image. Up to now, he's refused to be interviewed by them, declaring he wouldn't get a fair hearing.

The outcome of this election on April 14th will depend on whether voters remain loyal to the Chavez creed, or whether they're hankering for a change.

Capriles has said Maduro isn't in the same league as Chavez. While Maduro himself states he's more than capable of maintaining the legacy, and of getting the job done.
It's going to be up to the Venezuelan people to decide.

For Vatican Radio....James Blears reporting.