Deadly Protests Rock Venezuela’s Crisis Vote

Despite deadly violence in Venezuela on election day, President Nicolas Maduro has called Sunday’s vote to rewrite the constitution a success, even after reports that 10 people were killed during some of the worst street protests in months.

Voters largely boycotted Sunday’s election on who would make up a constitutional super-body that critics say is rigged to hand unprecedented power to Maduro, allowing him to dissolve the opposition-held Congress, delay future elections, and rewrite electoral rules to prevent his party from losing power.

The U.S. has called it a “sham election” and the White House is threatening sanctions on Venezuela, but Maduro remains defiant.

“Why the hell should we care what Trump says, we care about what the sovereign people of Venezuela say,” said Maduro on Sunday night.

But according to the opposition, only 12 percent of voters actually turned up at the polls because most of the country refused to recognize the election. Though that number is heavily disputed by the government, which has the turnout percentage at 42.

At least 120 people have died in unrest since April, fuelled by anger over an economic meltdown and mass food shortages.

Maduro’s new assembly is due to sit within 72 hours of being certified, and his wife and son are among those expected to win seats.

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