Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro casts his vote at a polling station. "Even if they win today, this won't last long," said opposition supporter Berta Hernandez, a 60-year-old doctor, in a wealthier Caracas district. But with polls showing some 70% of Venezuelans oppose the vote, Maduro's administration wants to avoid low turnout that would further undermine his legitimacy. To show the massive scale of public anger, the opposition earlier this month organized an unofficial referendum over Maduro's plan. A strong turnout of more than 7 million voters overwhelmingly rejected the constituent assembly and voted in favour of early elections.

Source: Bangkok Post July 30, 2017 19:30 UTC