Venezuela’s opposition will contest regional elections on Sunday for the first time in nearly four years, but remains unconvinced President Nicolas Maduro will allow the vote to be free.
The last legislative and presidential election was boycotted over a lack of free, fair and transparent polls. This vote will be overseen by observers from the European Union at about 1,000 of the 14,400 voting centers. However, the opposition’s showing may be hurt by doubts over some opposition candidates’ independence from the Maduro government.
“There is no water here. There is no electricity. There is no food. We have nothing but hope,” Eva Pietro, a 52-year-old lawyer and opposition supporter, told the Reuters news agency at a campaign closing event for Manuel Rosales, a candidate for the governorship of western Zulia state.
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