Widespread apathy grips Venezuelans, who are being asked to cast ballots in Sunday’s elections for 2,459 local council members across the country. The most popular anti-government parties have been banned and leading anti-government figures have been jailed or driven into exile, fearing for their safety. Melena is one of a handful of anti-Maduro candidates competing in the elections, which are being shunned by most opposition parties. But Melena concedes that voter apathy is a major obstacle, with the ruling party’s control of the National Electoral Council a major driver of distrust among the opposition’s base. Still, the opposition mayor of El Hatillo led a campaign rally inside a bakery recently, urging residents to back their council representatives at the polls.

Source: National Post December 07, 2018 17:03 UTC