Venezuela votes in election that could end 25 years of socialist rule

Edmundo González Urrutia could upset Nicolás Maduro’s run for a third term – but several obstacles can prevent a regime change

Venezuelans go to the polls on Sunday against a backdrop of hope and fear in a presidential election that could end 25 years of socialist rule – if a free and fair vote is allowed.

Opinion polls suggest that the president Nicolás Maduro, 61, who is seeking his third term, could be defeated by the opposition coalition candidate, retired diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia, 74.