Venezuela bars third opposition leader from holding office

Venezuela has barred another opposition leader from holding office ahead of hotly contested legislative elections. Former mayor Enzo Scarano said Thursday that the comptroller's office has prohibited him from holding public office for a year. The order came two days after the comptroller issued the same ban for high-profile opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, and earlier this month former mayor Daniel Ceballo also was barred from office. All three were candidates in the December legislative elections. Polls indicate the opposition is leading the races strongly as Venezuelans tire of chronic shortages, crime and inflation. More…