Venezuela Politics: Venezuela to hold presidential election Sunday

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02:21

Venezuelans go to the polls to elect a president Sunday. The controversial election comes amid an economic crisis - and cries of foul play from the opposition, which is boycotting the process. Stephen Gibbs reports from Caracas.

Nothing, it seems, was going to stop him. Threats, pleas, warnings from dozens of countries have not persuaded President Maduro to halt an election, which his critics say is flawed.

NICOLAS MADURO PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA "From the Miranda state I say to you, imperialists and their lackeys, there will be presidential elections in Venezuela, come rain, thunder and lightning, on Sunday, May 20."

This country's main opposition coalition is boycotting the process. But that does not mean Maduro is standing unopposed.

His main rival is a former state governor, Henri Falcon. He promises to replace Venezuelan's nearly worthless local currency with the U.S. dollar.

Also running is Javier Bertucci, an evangelical pastor with no political experience. He says it is time for a non-politician to rule this troubled country.

The biggest question now is will people actually vote, or support the opposition boycott. We came across this truck, selling chicken, and asked some of the customers. This woman said yes she will vote.

"You have to vote. Because if you want to remove or replace someone in power it's with votes, right?"

But this man told us he will stay at home, on election day.

"My decision not to vote is to do with the lack of hope that doing so will solve the economic situation of the country. That's what we all want - that there is real work, the real production that there is an end to this inflation."

Inflation is what everyone was talking about here. One month's state pension is not enough to buy two chickens.

STEPHEN GIBBS CARACAS "Can the incumbent candidate, in such a situation, actually win? Well in this unusual election, he most certainly can. Stephen Gibbs, CGTN, Caracas."