This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42304594
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela opposition banned from running in 2018 election | Venezuela opposition banned from running in 2018 election |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, says the country's main opposition parties are banned from taking part in next year's presidential election. | Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, says the country's main opposition parties are banned from taking part in next year's presidential election. |
| He said only parties which took part in Sunday's mayoral polls would be able to contest the presidency. | He said only parties which took part in Sunday's mayoral polls would be able to contest the presidency. |
| Leaders from the Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action parties boycotted the vote and said the electoral system is biased. | Leaders from the Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action parties boycotted the vote and said the electoral system is biased. |
| President Maduro insists the Venezuelan system is entirely trustworthy. | President Maduro insists the Venezuelan system is entirely trustworthy. |
| In October, the three main opposition parties announced they would be boycotting Sunday's vote to elect mayors in more than 300 towns and cities. | In October, the three main opposition parties announced they would be boycotting Sunday's vote to elect mayors in more than 300 towns and cities. |
| They said the vote serves what they call President Maduro's dictatorship. | They said the vote serves what they call President Maduro's dictatorship. |
| President Maduro's governing Socialist Party is expected to win the largest number of votes in the mayoral elections despite a worsening economic crisis. | President Maduro's governing Socialist Party is expected to win the largest number of votes in the mayoral elections despite a worsening economic crisis. |
| Maduro divides and conquers | |
| Analysis by Katy Watson, BBC News - Barquisimeto, Venezuela | |
| Mr Maduro's pronouncement is designed to provoke the opposition. Especially since he justified the move saying it was a condition set out in the National Constituent Assembly - a body that the opposition refuses to recognise because they say it's undemocratic. | |
| Mr Maduro has lost popularity because of the worsening economic crisis. In the face of criticism, his strategy has been one of 'divide and conquer' - find ways of weakening the opposition to make them less of a threat. | |
| And he's succeeded - he's imprisoned some of the most popular opposition leaders like Leopoldo Lopez. He's prevented others like Henrique Capriles from running for office. And now this threat - banning the most influential parties from taking part in future elections. The opposition is in crisis and Mr Maduro is gloating. |