Venezuelan protests intensify over elections
President Nicolas Maduro presses ahead with ‘confusing constituent assembly’ plan that will further centralise power in the struggling South American state
Caracas — Angry Venezuelans barricaded streets in parts of Caracas and the opposition geared up for another protest on Wednesday as the announcement of two election dates failed to appease anger against President Nicolas Maduro and an economy in tailspin. After nearly two months of protests demanding an early presidential vote, the pro-government electoral council on Tuesday said voting for a controversial "constituent assembly" would be held in July and delayed state elections in December. Maduro foes countered that was a sham designed to confuse Venezuelans, prompt infighting among the opposition over strategy, and allow the unpopular leftist government to dodge free and fair elections they would likely lose. Opposition legislators say the assembly, whose 540 members will be elected on a municipal level and by community groups like workers, will be filled with government stooges who will merely obey Maduro’s orders to rewrite the constitution. "Once installed, this constituent ass...
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