Political tensions in Venezuela are set to rise on Sunday with the opposition holding a public vote to undermine President Nicolas Maduro and his controversial bid to rewrite the constitution. The symbolic “plebiscite” was taking place after nearly four months of violent protests against Maduro, during which nearly 100 people have died. Maduro, though, says the new body, called the “National Constituent Assembly,” is the only way to lift Venezuela out of its economic and political crisis. The opposition coalition, the MUD, is organising Sunday’s vote because the National Electoral Council, which has systematically sided with Maduro, has refused to authorise it. The head of the electoral council, Tibisay Lucena, has dismissed the opposition vote as just one more protest.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 15, 2017 18:00 UTC