Venezuelan opposition fury over sanctions

The Venezulan opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition has sallied out to denounce President Nicolás Maduro’s government as a “regime on the verge of collapse” after a wave of public office disqualifications issued in recent days by the Venezuela’s Comptroller General’s office against opposition figures. According to opinion polls, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is suffering from its lowest approval ratings since Hugo Chávez began the “Bolivarian Revolution” 16 years ago. Coupled with a poor showing in preliminary polls ahead of elections this year — currently polling 15 percent behinf the opposition — the PSUV is facing its biggest ever threat to power. More…