CARACAS -- (AFP) -- Much will be at stake when Venezuelans cast ballots in
             legislative and state elections Sunday that could be decisive for the presidential
             election four weeks later.

             Amid an economic crisis brought on by falling oil prices, and a political system still
             unstable after civil unrest in 1989 and two coup attempts in 1992, analysts say the
             Venezuelan electorate wants change.

             For the first time Sunday, a new law will require political parties to ensure that 30
             percent of their candidates are women. It will also be the first time voting is
             administered by a reformed National Elections Council and a new, automated
             balloting system touted as ``anti-fraud'' by its promoters.

             In addition to electing a new Congress, 23 state governors and 391 deputies to
             regional assemblies, Sunday's vote will determine the balance of power among
             political parties vying to influence the presidential election Dec. 6.

             Leading presidential candidate Hugo Chavez -- a former lieutenant colonel who
             led a bloody coup attempt in 1992 -- has proposed creating a new constituent
             assembly that would replace Congress.

             His ``anti-system'' campaign has promised an overhaul of the nation's judicial
             branch and development of a new constitution, to restore Venezuela's ``social
             contract'' and renew faith in political institutions.

             A survey conducted by the polling firm Datanalysis in October showed Chavez
             leading with support from 44.2 percent of respondents, trailed closely by
             independent Henrique Salas Romer with 39.2 percent.

             Support for Romer, ex-governor of Carabobo state, had grown since an earlier
             survey in August in which Chavez received 45 percent of intended votes and
             Romer 21 percent.

             Analysts expect Sunday's vote to yield a Congress divided among the social
             democratic party Democratic Action, the Christian democratic COPEI, several
             left-of-center parties, including Movement Toward Socialism, which supports
             Chavez, and independent supporters of Romer.

             Irene Saez, the former beauty queen and ex-mayor of the affluent Caracas suburb
             Chacao, was the leading candidate for president until March, when polls showed
             Chavez's support surpassing hers. In the October survey, she received support
             from only 4.5 percent of those polled.
 

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