A top Venezuelan opposition party announced on Friday it would boycott April's presidential vote, showing divides within the opposition coalition.
Popular Will, the third largest opposition party, said it would "not nominate or endorse any candidate" in the April 22 presidential election that it says amounts to a "fraud."
Read more: Defiant President Madiuro vows to attend Summit of the Americas
"Those who register in these conditions are doing the dictatorship a favor," said the party led by Leopoldo Lopez (above). He is under house arrest on allegations of inciting violence in 2014 protests.
Venezuela's opposition is huddled around the Democratic Unity Round Table (MUD), an alliance of some 20 parties opposed to Socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
Read more:Desperate Venezuelans pouring into Brazil
Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate of the Justice First party, is also barred from office over allegations he misused state funds. He is widely viewed as the opposition figure most likely to be able to defeat Maduro.
Opposition undecided
MUD is debating whether to participate in April's election, which was controversially pushed forward from later this year.
Popular Will's announcement signals the perennially divided opposition may not be able to rally around a single candidate or agree on participating.
Henry Ramos, head of the Democratic Action party, said he favors the MUD supporting a single candidate to compete against Maduro.
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Venezuela on the brink
The last straw
In March 2017, violent protests erupted across the country in response to a Supreme Court decision to strip the legislative branch of its powers. Amid an international outcry, President Nicolas Maduro reversed the decision, but it was too late. Thousands continued to take to the streets, calling for new elections. More than 100 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
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Venezuela on the brink
Hunger, a growing problem
The violence added to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans spend more than 30 hours a week waiting in lines to shop, and are often confronted with empty shelves when they finally enter a store. President Maduro blames the crisis on US price speculation. The opposition, however, accuses the Socialist government of economic mismanagement.
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Venezuela on the brink
Health care in crisis
The crisis has even affected health care in the oil-rich nation. Venezuelans often head to Colombia to collect medical supplies to send home, as seen in this picture. Hospitals across Venezuela have compared conditions to those seen only in war zones. As patient deaths rise, health officials have sounded the alarm on the rise of malaria and dengue fever.
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Venezuela on the brink
Power grab
By July 2017, Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly was established. For observers, it had all the hallmarks of a power grab. The new body adopted the authority to pass legislation on a range of issues, effectively taking away the powers of Venezuela's elected congress, which was under the opposition's control. The move drew wide international condemnation.
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Venezuela on the brink
The West sanctions
In response to the political crisis, the United States and European Union imposed a series of sanctions against ruling officials. The US blacklisted members of the Constituent Assembly and froze all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction. The EU banned arms sales to the country.
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Venezuela on the brink
Government victorious in regional elections
In October 2017, Venezuela held two votes: regional elections and elections for governors, which were long overdue. The opposition boycotted the vote, but then split, as some candidates and small parties chose to participate. This caused a deep rift within Maduro's opponents. The government went on to sweep the vote, which detractors say was unfair and heavily favored the regime.
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Venezuela on the brink
Debt default
In November 2017, the oil-rich, cash-poor nation faced its day of reckoning. Credit ratings agencies declared Venezuela and its state-run oil company in "selective default." But Russia offered to restructure the South American country's debt to ensure Caracas pays its other creditors. US and EU sanctions, however, limited the chance of an agreement.
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Venezuela on the brink
Presidential elections scheduled
The National Assembly announced in January 2018 that it would grant Maduro's call for snap presidential elections. The electoral authority, CNE, held the elections on May 20. The EU, the US and 14 Latin American nations warned that they would not recognize the results. The mainstream MUD opposition alliance boycotted the vote, leaving only one possible outcome.
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Venezuela on the brink
Maduro wins ...
Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term with about 68 percent of the vote. Turnout was only 46 percent, according to electoral authorities. However, the MUD opposition alliance put turnout at less than 30 percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) called the elections neither free nor fair.
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Venezuela on the brink
... Guaido assumes power
But weeks into the new year, the situation took a drastic turn. On January 23, 2019, parliament president Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela — a move that was quickly recognized by US President Donald Trump. Maduro called it a US-backed "coup." Days later, the US sanctioned Venezuela's state oil firm, while Guaido staked his claim on the country's foreign assets.
"If the elections are free the government will lose, and if they are not free they'll lose because they aren't legitimate," he said in a locally televised interview.
Maduro has about a 20-percent approval rating in the oil-rich country plagued by hyperinflation and economic meltdown.
A split opposition either partially boycotting the election or fielding multiple candidates would have been a boost for Maduro, who has consolidated power by creating of a new legislative body and undermining the opposition.
Critics say Maduro will use electoral fraud and repression to win another six-year term.
cw/ng (AP, Reuters)
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