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| Venezuela sets December election date | Venezuela sets December election date |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The National Electoral Council in Venezuela says elections for the country's National Assembly will be held on 6 December. | The National Electoral Council in Venezuela says elections for the country's National Assembly will be held on 6 December. |
| Delays in setting a date had raised concerns the poll could be cancelled. | Delays in setting a date had raised concerns the poll could be cancelled. |
| But the council's head, Tibisay Lucena, said that was never on the cards and denied the council had bowed to opposition demands. | But the council's head, Tibisay Lucena, said that was never on the cards and denied the council had bowed to opposition demands. |
| The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of President Nicolas Maduro currently holds a majority of seats. | The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of President Nicolas Maduro currently holds a majority of seats. |
| But recent polls suggest that if the election were held now, the opposition coalition would win in a landslide. | But recent polls suggest that if the election were held now, the opposition coalition would win in a landslide. |
| Venezuela's rampant crime, the drop in oil revenues and chronic shortages of basic goods have hurt President Maduro's approval ratings. | Venezuela's rampant crime, the drop in oil revenues and chronic shortages of basic goods have hurt President Maduro's approval ratings. |
| Ms Lucena announced that the official campaign period would run from 13 November to 3 December. | Ms Lucena announced that the official campaign period would run from 13 November to 3 December. |
| The opposition coalition - the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) - had accused election officials of dragging their feet because of the governing party's poor showing in opinion polls. | The opposition coalition - the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) - had accused election officials of dragging their feet because of the governing party's poor showing in opinion polls. |
| One of the key demands of the imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, has been that the government set a date for the elections and that they are supervised by international observers. | One of the key demands of the imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, has been that the government set a date for the elections and that they are supervised by international observers. |
| Ms Lucena said the UNASUR group of counties, which is generally considered to be friendly towards the Venezuelan government, would be allowed to observe the polls. | Ms Lucena said the UNASUR group of counties, which is generally considered to be friendly towards the Venezuelan government, would be allowed to observe the polls. |
| It is not clear whether Mr Lopez, who has been on hunger strike since May, will now end his protest. | It is not clear whether Mr Lopez, who has been on hunger strike since May, will now end his protest. |
| He has been in jail for more than a year, accused of inciting violence during anti-government protests last year in which more 40 people died. | He has been in jail for more than a year, accused of inciting violence during anti-government protests last year in which more 40 people died. |
| The opposition alleged widespread fraud in the 2013 presidential election in which Mr Maduro claimed a narrow victory. Mr Maduro repeatedly denied the allegations. | The opposition alleged widespread fraud in the 2013 presidential election in which Mr Maduro claimed a narrow victory. Mr Maduro repeatedly denied the allegations. |