Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly has backed plans for a presidential election before April 30, months ahead of schedule. But neighboring countries say the move to allow Nicolas Maduro a second term lacks legitimacy. Venezuela’s National Election Council has been authorized to set an exact date for the next presidential election after the Constituent Assembly — a body dominated by supporters of current leader Nicolas Maduro — approved plans for an early vote. Delegates ordered the election to take place before April 30, seven months ahead of schedule — a move widely seen as allowing Maduro to take advantage of disarray in the country’s opposition despite a worsening economic crisis. Maduro confidentMaduro said on Tuesday he was ready to seek re-election if the ruling United Socialist party selects him at a convention on February 4.

Source: Egypt Independent January 24, 2018 09:11 UTC