President Hugo Chávez faces a critical test of his grip on power against an energised opposition in state and municipal elections today, a year after suffering his first defeat at the polls.

Chávez remains the country's most popular politician and enjoys overwhelming control of local offices. But he faces an opposition buoyed by last year's defeat of his attempt to abolish term limits and by grumbling over the crime, corruption and inflation that have blighted his socialist ambitions.

Chávez himself says these elections for governors and mayors could decide "the future of the revolution, the future of socialism and also the future of Hugo Chávez."

A setback could force Chávez to contend with hostile local-level opponents with revived national clout. Victory would help him lay the groundwork to extend his rule beyond 2013, when his six-year term ends.

Chávez's candidates leading in polls

Pre-election polls showed Chávez's candidates leading in a majority of races, while the opposition was ahead or in tight races in several of Venezuela's most populous states.

Chávez already has a congress filled with supporters and a Supreme Court that critics say is in his pocket as he tries to hold on to power in state houses and city halls.

Chávez has threatened to cut off national funds to states that end up in the hands of opponents. He also has warned he might need to send tanks to defend his government if an opponent wins hard-fought Carabobo state.

The candidates include Chávez's older brother Adán, who is in a tough, bellwether race to succeed their father as governor of Barinas, Chávez's home state. Chávez's ex-wife, Marisabel Rodriguez, is also on the ballot - on the opposition side.

Rodriguez's campaign

Rodriguez, running for district mayor in her hometown, Barquisimeto, said her campaign may be local but it's also "against the danger posed to democracy by leaving a single person in power for a long time".

Chávez's allies swept the last state elections in 2004, winning all but two of 23 governorships and a majority of local offices. This time, candidates are competing for 22 governorships, 330 mayoral posts and other offices.

Chávez's popularity has rebounded since he suffered his only electoral defeat in 2007 in a referendum that would have allowed him to seek reelection indefinitely, as well as handpick local leaders and suspended civil liberties under extended states of emergency.