Venezuela’s recall delay divides Latin American nations

Five South American countries expressed concern over the decision by electoral authorities in Venezuela to effectively delay a presidential recall vote until 2017.The foreign ministers of Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Paraguay signed an open letter, presented late Wednesday night, criticizing the decision, which they said undermines the point of having a referendum in the first place.Venezuelan electoral officials said last week that while opponents of socialist President Nicolás Maduro can try to trigger the recall by collecting signatures from 20 percent of voters next month, any referendum would not be held until next year.The ruling all but assures the socialists will remain in power until the next scheduled presidential election in 2018 because if Maduro is not recalled before the midpoint of his term, or January 10, 2017, he would instead be replaced by Vice-President Aristóbulo Istúriz. More…