Emotional campaign ends in Venezuela.

Leandra Felipe
Correspondent for Agência Brasil/EBC

Caracas - The closing of the campaign, yesterday (11), by the main candidates for the Presidency of Venezuela for the elections on Sunday (14) maintained the emotional strategy used during the ten days of campaigning. The situation sought to rescue the trajectory and legacy of President Hugo Chávez, reaffirming his connection with the government candidate Nicolás Maduro. The opposition, represented by Henrique Capriles, tried to show the opportunity to conquer a “new Venezuela”.

At tonight's rally in Caracas, to conclude Maduro's campaign, excerpts were shown featuring the end of President Hugo Chávez's campaign in last October's elections and Chávez's last speech in December, before traveling to Cuba for surgery in his battle against cancer.

The crowd watched on a large screen as Chávez said: “If something happens, I ask that you vote for Nicolás Maduro, because he is one of the young leaders with the greatest capacity for the Presidency of the Republic. I ask this from the bottom of my heart.” The rally was attended by former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona and Hugo Chávez's daughters.

The memory of Chávez was also cultivated in every rallying cry: "Chávez forever, Maduro president!" The candidate recalled his personal relationship with Chávez, who chose him to succeed him, and said that the greatest legacy left by the deceased president was social inclusion. "He inaugurated a historic and democratic era of unity and participation of the majorities that were excluded," said Maduro, promising to continue the social missions created by Chávez.
 
The opposition ended its campaign in the city of Barquisimeto, Lara state, in what it called a Crusade for Venezuela. Capriles relied on a speech of promises, pledging to maintain social programs developed by Chávez and to strengthen the bolívar against the dollar, restoring the value of the recently devalued currency.

Capriles rejected rumors that there will be "chaos" if he wins Sunday's elections. "What will come is a Venezuela of life, not death," he said, focusing on promises to combat violence in the country if he wins the elections. "We will choose between security for the people and this little group that is there," Capriles attacked, referring to the interim government of Nicolás Maduro.

Although Capriles' closing campaign rally in Caracas took place on Sunday (7), in the Chacao region, an opposition stronghold in the capital, today there were some demonstrations of support such as motorcades.

Editing: Fabio Massalli