Venezuela Delays Presidential Vote, but Opposition Still Plans a Boycott<br />In addition to announcing the new date, the government said<br />that it would allow international observers to participate and that members of regional councils would be chosen by Venezuelans going to the polls in May as well.<br />By NICHOLAS CASEYMARCH 1, 2018<br />MEDELLÍN, Colombia — Venezuela’s government said Thursday<br />that it was postponing the presidential election until May 20, allowing an extra month before the country’s snap vote but doing little to quell critics calling for a boycott.<br />Though several minor opposition parties said Thursday<br />that they would participate in the election, the main coalition representing opposition groups has said it would boycott the vote.<br />Juan Pablo Guanipa said that We’re not participating<br />because there are no open elections, because they are not respecting the right to vote, the right to choose or the will of every Venezuelan,<br />"What will they say if the representatives of the opposition, by orders of the United States, don’t want to participate in the elections<br />and use violence as the alternative?" Ana Vanessa Herrero in Caracas, Venezuela.<br />The vote has also been rejected by election observers and international bodies, as well as the United States and many of Venezuela’s neighbors.
