Venezuelans voted Sunday in an election that polls suggested would give a frustrated opposition control of congress and the chance to roll back the power of a socialist government whose economic policies have led to long food lines and a collapsing currency.
Voters in pro-government districts nationwide were wakened before dawn by fireworks-a reminder by President Nicolás Maduro's populist government that it was time to get to polling stations and cast ballots for the self-styled revolution of his predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chávez.
The election of the 167-member National Assembly is seen as a plebiscite on Mr. Maduro's rule of a country that has the world's highest rate of inflation, topping 200% year-to-year, and an economy the International Monetary Fund says will contract 10% this year.