Polling has suggested the socialists would lose both those elections badly amid widespread anger over Venezuela's economic woes. Speaking hours after another big march demanding his ouster ended in clashes between police and protesters, Maduro said a new constitution is needed to restore peace and stop the opposition from trying to carry out a coup. The constitution was last rewritten in 1999, early in the 14-year presidency of the late Hugo Chavez, who began Venezuela's socialist transformation. Borges said it would deny Venezuelans the right to express their views at the ballot box, and he urged the military to prevent the "coup" by Maduro. The move to rewrite the constitution underscored many protesters' chief complaint about the administration: That it has become an unfeeling dictatorship.

Source: ABC News May 01, 2017 16:12 UTC