2012 Venezuelan presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Venezuela on 7 October 2012 to choose a president for a six-year term beginning in January 2013.

After the approval of a constitutional amendment in 2009 that abolished term limits, incumbent Hugo Chávez, representing the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) was able to present himself again as a candidate after his re-election in 2006. His main challenger was Henrique Capriles, Governor of Miranda, representing Justice First. The candidates were backed by opposing electoral coalitions; Chávez by the Great Patriotic Pole (Gran Polo Patriótico, GPP), and Capriles by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD). There were four more candidates from different parties. Capriles ran an energetic campaign, and visited each of the country's states. Throughout his campaign, Capriles remained confident that he could win the election and be the country's next President despite Chávez leading most polls by large margins. Chavez won the election comfortably, although this was the narrowest margin he ever won by.

Chávez was elected for a fourth term as President of Venezuela with 55.07% of the popular vote, ahead of the 44.31% of Capriles. The elections showed a turnout of above 80%. Capriles conceded defeat as the preliminary results were known. Chávez died only two months into his fourth term.