Venezuela's opposition in disarray over boycott of mayoral elections

Now, citing unfair conditions, many opposition parties have switched tack once more and are refusing to run candidates in Sunday’s nationwide polling for local mayors. Some analysts think sitting out elections backfires. Despite food shortages, hyper-inflation and widespread disgust with Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian regime, the boycott means that candidates from his ruling Socialist party are likely to win control of the vast majority of the 335 town and city governments up for grabs. “I think the very least you can ask of an opposition is that it shows up and puts up a fight,” said Phil Gunson of the International Crisis Group. “I don’t think there are many instances in history where governments have been brought down by electoral boycotts.”More…