{"id":58319,"date":"2018-02-08T06:21:34","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T06:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=58319"},"modified":"2018-02-08T06:21:34","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T06:21:34","slug":"venezuela-sets-presidential-vote-for-april-22-after-talks-crumble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/venezuela-sets-presidential-vote-for-april-22-after-talks-crumble.html","title":{"rendered":"Venezuela sets presidential vote for April 22 after talks crumble"},"content":{"rendered":"

Venezuela sets presidential vote for April 22 after talks crumble<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Venezuela on Wednesday set a presidential election for April 22 after mediation talks between the leftist government and an opposition coalition collapsed, setting the stage for the likely re-election of President Nicolas Maduro.<\/span><\/p>\n

Venezuela\u2019s ruling socialists had previously said a vote would be held before the end of April, with Maduro running despite his widespread unpopularity and a crushing economic crisis in the oil-rich nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

During talks in recent weeks in the Dominican Republic, the opposition lobbied for the vote to be held later this year to give it time to choose a candidate, as its top two leaders are barred from running.<\/span><\/p>\n

But talks between the bitter foes crumbled on Wednesday, and the pro-government electoral board announced the April 22 election date that night.<\/span><\/p>\n

A raft of nations, including neighboring Colombia, have already said they would not recognize the election plagued with criticism over unfair use of state resources and the sidelining of opposition politicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also fears of outright fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

The early election date will only fuel criticism that Maduro has turned Venezuela into a dictatorship and could spur further sanctions from the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington is closer to deciding whether to impose sanctions on Venezuelan oil, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said earlier on Wednesday, in what would be a severe blow to the OPEC member\u2019s already ailing economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maduro\u2019s government, however, has said it is prepared to withstand sanctions from the \u201cimperialist\u201d Trump administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just minutes before the electoral board\u2019s announcement, Maduro was beaming at a campaign event at a Caracas park, during which he danced and embraced supporters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe people have decided already: Nicolas Maduro is president of the republic for the 2019-2025 period,\u201d said the 55-year-old former bus driver and union leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maduro\u2019s foes, who staged massive protests last year in an attempt to force early elections, say six more years of Maduro at the helm would spark a full-fledged humanitarian crisis and the utter destruction of Venezuela\u2019s economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

They now face a quandary about how – and if – they should participate in the vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

Opponents say the government is rigging the election in advance by barring Maduro\u2019s strongest rivals – opposition politicians Leopoldo Lopez and Henrique Capriles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some activists believe it is foolish to participate in what they consider a sham election, while others feel they have to keep up pressure by voting. For many increasingly impoverished and desperate Venezuelans, emigration has become the only escape valve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-venezuela-politics\/venezuela-sets-presidential-vote-for-april-22-after-talks-crumble-idUSKBN1FR2W0<\/span><\/p>\n

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