Venezuelan Presidential Election Delayed To Late May

Reuters: Venezuela postpones presidential election to late May

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela’s election board said on Thursday it was postponing an upcoming presidential vote from April 22 to the second half of May following an agreement between the government and some opposition parties.

Presidential elections in Venezuela are normally held at the end of the year, and critics had accused authorities of moving the vote forward to wrongfoot the opposition and benefit President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election bid.

The leading opposition coalition is boycotting the poll, but one presidential hopeful, Henri Falcon, has already launched his candidacy.

Falcon, a 56-year-old former state governor, believes he can win by taking advantage of widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling socialists over Venezuela’s dire economic crisis.

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Update #1: Venezuela presidential election postponed to May (BBC)

WNU Editor: There is only one minor opposition leader who is running in this election .... Venezuela presidential hopeful wants Wall Street economist on team (Reuters). My guess is that he did not get the memo that the fix was already in, and that President Nicolas Maduro will be winning with a comfortable majority when the ballots are finally counted. As for the real opposition leader .... harassment and intimidation continues to be the rule .... Venezuela police enter home of imprisoned opposition leader Lopez: wife (Reuters).

Update #2: This is going to hurt .... Exclusive: U.S. considering broad oil sanctions on Venezuela - source (Reuters).

Yup .... US embargo would be the 'death knell' for Venezuela's oil industry, analyst says (CNBC).

Update #3: The misery in Venezuela shows no bounds .... Zoos are forced to slaughter animals to feed others in Venezuela, where bone-thin pumas have become the face of the crisis (Daily Mail).