- Title: Voting begins in Venezuela's controversial contituent assembly
- Date: 30th July 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF VOTING CENTRE NATIONAL GUARD STANDING OUTSIDE VOTING CENTRE WITH PEOPLE LINED UP AT TABLE IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE ON LINE TO ENTER VOTING CENTRE PEOPLE LOOKING AT VOTER LIST ON WALL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON LINE AT VOTING CENTRE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING ON LINES BEHIND TABLES WAITING TO ENTER VOTING CENTRE WOMAN WAITING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO VOTING CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) Spanish) KENDY OROPEZA, VOTER, SAYING: "We are doing what is right. Despite all the fear that they're instilling in us to not go out and vote, here we are on the street. We are here and we are going to exercise our right to vote so this can truly change as it needs to change." PEOPLE ON LINE OUTSIDE VOTING CENTRE WOMAN READING NEWSPAPER AS SHE WAITS ON LINE OUTSIDE VOTING CENTRE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH GATE INTO VOTING CENTRE NATIONAL GUARD STANDING GUARD OUTSIDE VOTING CENTRE GATE PEOPLE SITTING AND WAITING OUTSIDE VOTING CENTRE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND TABLES PEOPLE LOOKING AT VOTER LISTS ON WALL VARIOUS OF CARACAS SKYLINE
- Embargoed: 13th August 2017 13:11
- Keywords: Venezuela voting contituent assembly crisis
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0016RWRI2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: On Sunday (July 30), a steady stream of Venezuelans cast their votes for a constitutional super-body expected to hand sweeping new powers to the ruling Socialist Party and potentially extend their unpopular rule in the crisis-striken OPEC nation.
While President Nicolas Maduro has promised the assembly will bring peace after four months of opposition protests during which more than 115 people have been killed, critics say it will allow Maduro to dissolve the opposition-run Congress, delay future elections and rewrite electoral rules to prevent the socialists from being voted out.
Voters are not being asked whether they wish to proceed with the assembly, only to select its 545 members from more than 6,100 candidates representing a broad array of Socialist Party allies. Opposition parties are boycotting the election which polls suggest is opposed by a large majority of Venezuelans.
The vote, which follows the postponement of regional elections and Maduro's repeated refusal to heed decisions by Congress, has brought global condemnation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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