01:45Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said that the presidential election was 'not a boxing ring' and called for everything to 'develop calmly', as he cast his vote in Caracas on Sunday.
“We have said that here the message is rather that everything should develop calmly, in peace, because this is an electoral party [system], this is not a boxing ring," he told supporters.
Footage shows him surrounded by backers and locals, as the press took photographs outside the polling station.
“We are going to change hate for love. We are going to change poverty for progress. We are going to change corruption for honesty," he continued. "There are only a few hours left to achieve this change."
74-year-old Gonzalez, a former diplomat, is incumbent President Nicolas Maduro's main challenger. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Previous opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people are eligible to vote. Polling stations are open between 6am and 6pm local time.
'This is not a boxing ring' - Opposition candidate Gonzalez calls for 'calm', casts ballot in Venezuelan presidential election
Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said that the presidential election was 'not a boxing ring' and called for everything to 'develop calmly', as he cast his vote in Caracas on Sunday.
“We have said that here the message is rather that everything should develop calmly, in peace, because this is an electoral party [system], this is not a boxing ring," he told supporters.
Footage shows him surrounded by backers and locals, as the press took photographs outside the polling station.
“We are going to change hate for love. We are going to change poverty for progress. We are going to change corruption for honesty," he continued. "There are only a few hours left to achieve this change."
74-year-old Gonzalez, a former diplomat, is incumbent President Nicolas Maduro's main challenger. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Previous opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people are eligible to vote. Polling stations are open between 6am and 6pm local time.
Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said that the presidential election was 'not a boxing ring' and called for everything to 'develop calmly', as he cast his vote in Caracas on Sunday.
“We have said that here the message is rather that everything should develop calmly, in peace, because this is an electoral party [system], this is not a boxing ring," he told supporters.
Footage shows him surrounded by backers and locals, as the press took photographs outside the polling station.
“We are going to change hate for love. We are going to change poverty for progress. We are going to change corruption for honesty," he continued. "There are only a few hours left to achieve this change."
74-year-old Gonzalez, a former diplomat, is incumbent President Nicolas Maduro's main challenger. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Previous opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people are eligible to vote. Polling stations are open between 6am and 6pm local time.