Venezuela: Regional Elections May Be Called Next Week, Opposition Leader Says

The president of Venezuela's national electoral council, Tibisay Lucena, may announce regional elections next week as a way to head off mass protests planned for April 19, Carlos Vecchio, the exiled political coordinator of opposition party Voluntad Popular, said April 14, El Nacional reported. Vecchio said holding regional elections would be important, but not enough to reestablish the constitutional order in the country. Venezuela's political opposition is nearing a critical juncture. More…