Venezuela is delaying its regional elections

World News Nilgun Salim
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Venezuela’s election authority announced the postponement of the regional elections, which should take place at the end of the first half of 2017, instead of December this year, the measure sparking dissatisfaction of the opposition, Reuters noted online.

The mandates of the 23 state governors were scheduled to end in January 2017 so that it was anticipated that the regional elections would take place in December.

However, the head of the Electoral Authorities in Venezuela, Tibisay Lucerne, considered close to the government in Caracas, said that the elections will be held next year at the end of the first half.

Although Lucerne has not given any reasons for postponing the elections, the government sources said that exceptional measures are justified by the ‘economic war’ unleashed by the United States against Venezuela and the collapse of oil prices.

The opposition believes that the ruling Socialist president Nicolas Maduro is trying to postpone the elections because he fears that it will record a disastrous score, given the deep economic crisis that is grinding the South American State.

‘This decision of the Election Commission is part of a dangerous development of a regime that is clearly acting outside the limits of the constitution,’ reads a release of the opposition coalition.

Two weeks ago, President Maduro said that the elections are not a ‘priority’ in Venezuela, reports France24 website.

‘The priority is the economic recovery in Venezuela, which is indeed helping people,’ said the leader of Caracas.

The economic crisis in Venezuela, the South American country with about 31 million inhabitants, began to make its presence felt in the past three years, as oil prices fell considerably. Crude oil represents 90% of Venezuelan exports and the fall in oil prices meant the collapse of government revenues.