VOTERS streamed to the polls yesterday for parliamentary elections that government opponents hope will signal a popular rejection of President Nicolas Maduro and the Bolivarian revolution.

The right-wing Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) has been buoyed by opinion polls showing it has 65 per cent backing against 35 per cent for the 16-party Grand Patriotic Pole (GPP), which includes the president’s United Socialist Party and the Communist Party.

The government has undoubtedly lost some popularity recently, despite an impressive record in social provision, especially housing.

Much of the dissatisfaction has its roots in a programme of economic sabotage by big business, which has engineered routine shortages of basic goods and huge price rises.

A slump in oil revenues due to world prices more than halving has also hit the economy.

However, respected local pollster Datanalisis revealed a dramatic surge in personal support for Mr Maduro — from 21 to 32 per cent — late last month.

This was attributed to greater popular acceptance of the government’s message that a mudslide for the opposition would bring about destruction of the social programmes introduced under the late revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez.

The president told a rally in Caracas last Monday: “What is the plan of the rotten right wing? It’s to end the social missions, end pensions and send old people to work … privatise education … bring in the International Monetary Fund and give it our oil wealth.”

GPP supporters take heart from the disunity of the opposition, which has no agreed leader, and historically significant parties such as Christian Democratic outfit Copei and the Movement for Socialism social democrats abandoning the right-wing coalition.

MUD groups loyal to serial election loser Henrique Capriles are estranged from supporters of more aggressive methods such as People’s Will leader Leopoldo Lopez, who is serving over 13 years in prison for incitement to violence.

Broad-brush 65-35 figures are unlikely to translate into a similar split in seats in the National Assembly.

The opposition requires a three-fifths majority, equating to 101 seats, to pass laws to restrict the president’s rule.

A smaller majority could merely create minor problems.