Maduro recall referendum not to be held this year: Electoral authority

‘Venezuela’s electoral authority has announced that a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro will not be held this year in a blow to the opposition.
Following a Wednesday meeting with government and opposition officials, the country’s National Electoral Council released a statement announcing that “the event could be held in the middle of the first quarter of 2017.”
The ruling serves as a major blow to the country’s opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), whih was calling for the referendum to be held ahead of January 10 because it would set off new elections if Maduro lost by then.’
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