Venezuela opposition at crossroads as 2016 recall hopes fade

Venezuela is in terrible shape. Two-thirds of voters say in polls they want President Nicolas Maduro gone amid worsening shortages and inflation. It seems like the job of the opposition would be easy. But critics of the country's 17-year-old socialist government are reeling after elections officials torpedoed their primary political effort for the year — a campaign to recall Maduro and hold an early presidential election. Electoral officials said last week that the opposition could go ahead and try to trigger the recall by collecting signatures from 20 percent of voters over three days at the end of October, but if they should succeed, the recall vote would not be held until next year. More…