Politics of Venezuela

Athens has denied foreign reports that it resisted calls by other European Union member-states for sanctions against Venezuela's socialist government over a violence-marred vote in the South American country.

Greece's conservative opposition has urged the country's left-led administration to clarify its position on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following reports in the foreign press that Athens has resisted calls by other EU member states for European sanctions against the South American country's socialist government.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged Venezuela's authorities to make "all possible efforts" to ease tensions and prevent further violence after two opposition leaders were sent back to prison, as the European Union also reacted against the move.

The United States hit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with direct sanctions on July 31 over a disputed and deadly weekend vote, calling him a "dictator," while the leader refused to heed what he slammed as "imperial orders."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory on July 31 in an internationally criticized election for an assembly to rewrite the constitution, but the opposition cried fraud and vowed to keep protesting despite a deadly crackdown.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council has said more than eight million people voted to grant President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party virtually unlimited powers with a constitutional assembly – a turnout more than double the estimates of both the government’s political opponents and independent experts.

Voting is under way in Venezuela to elect a new assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution, reported BBC.
The opposition is boycotting the vote which it says is a power grab by President Nicolás Maduro.

Air France halted flights to Venezuela ahead of a legislative vote that has led to violent protests across the country, reported SputnikNews.

French flag carrier Air France on Friday halted flights to Venezuela ahead of a legislative vote that has led to violent protests across the country.

At least five people were killed in renewed clashes between police and protesters in Venezuela, where a 48-hour strike called for by the opposition is taking place.
The Venezuela prosecutor’s office said a 49-year-old man was killed during a protest in Carabobo state and a 16-year old died in El Paraiso, Caracas on Thursday.

Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro rejected US economic sanctions imposed on Wednesday against 13 current and former officials in the country, defining them as "illegal." Reports BGNES.