VENEZUELANS VOTE IN PARLIAMENTARY POLLS

Polls open on Sunday in Venezuela's parliamentary elections, in a vote that is expected to deliver President Nicolas Maduro control over the country's legislature, the National Assembly (AN), and fully consolidate his regime's grip on power in the country, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

International observers like the EU and the Organization of American States (OAS) refused to send observers to Sunday's election and said the conditions for a democratic process in Venezuela do not currently exist. More than 20 million Venezuelans will be eligible to vote in the country that has been beset by deep political and economic crises, the Spanish news agency EFE also reported.

The country's opposition, led by the current AN president and Maduro foe Juan Guaido, has boycotted the vote, saying it represents "a fraud." Venezuela had its highest inflation rates ever in 2018: 65,374%. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) marked it even higher, at 1,370,000%. A lack of hard currency meant precious few items could be imported. Soaring prices have made it impossible for most Venezuelans to shop at the supermarket, Reuters and the Associated Press (AP) also reported.

The White House National Security Council also called Sunday's vote fraudulent. "This election only serves to keep Maduro in power and does nothing to build a better future for the people of Venezuela," the council tweeted. Despite US President Donald Trump's campaign of strict sanctions and high diplomatic pressure, Maduro has remained in power, backed by the country's military and supported by Russia, Cuba, China and Iran, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) also reported.