Critics say the government has disregarded the constitution by preventing a recall referendum against Maduro, who faces low approval ratings, high crime rates and food scarcity that is leaving many Venezuelans hungry. Maduro called for a national dialogue to ease tensions but the opposition is wary of any attempt at negotiation. “I call the Venezuelan people to a political and social dialogue for the prosperity of Venezuela,” Maduro said. “I will not play the part of the fool.”However Maduro said that the national assembly – controlled by the opposition after a landslide victory in elections last December – had become irrelevant. “I think the national assembly’s time is up,” he said, in a televised address from Miraflores, the presidential palace.

Source: The Guardian October 26, 2016 23:09 UTC