Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Parliamentary Elections in Venezuela Testing Chavez's Popularity Diaa Bekheet 26 September 2010 Photo: VOA Voters in Venezuela are casting ballots Sunday in parliamentary elections seen as a referendum on President Hugo Chavez, who has been in power since 1998. The opposition is expected to increase the number of seats it holds in the 165-member National Assembly after boycotting the elections five years ago. It is hoping to capture at least one-third of the seats in order to block measures it fears will advance President Chavez's push toward socialism. Mr. Chavez is not on the ballot. But his decline in popularity over the past two years due to increases in both crime and inflation is expected to be a factor in the outcome. Mr. Chavez has campaigned heavily for Socialist Party candidates throughout Venezuela in an effort to ensure the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to pass major legislation. In the coming months, he is expected to introduce measures that will enable his government to nationalize small and medium-sized businesses. Recent polls show the Socialists just slightly ahead of the opposition umbrella group, Democratic Unity.  Venezuela's next presidential election is scheduled for 2012. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .