Opposition parties are boycotting what they call a rigged election and have planned protests on highways across the country. “We’re going all out with this constituent assembly,” said Maduro, as he voted at 6am in a low-income area of the capital Caracas. Photograph: Christian Veron/ReutersWith polls showing some 70% of Venezuelans oppose the constituent assembly, Maduro’s administration is hoping to avoid a low turnout, which would further undermine his legitimacy. A strong turnout of more than 7 million voters overwhelmingly rejected the constituent assembly and voted in favour of early general elections. As global condemnation mounts, the US last week sanctioned 13 socialist party leaders, in part as a response to the election, and Colombia’s president Juan Manuel Santos said his country would not recognise the constituent assembly.

Source: The Guardian July 30, 2017 17:10 UTC