(News24) – Venezuela's top court on Thursday delayed the process to re-enrol political parties by six months – a move that will exclude the main opposition coalition from the upcoming presidential election.
"The National Electoral Council is ordered to exclude the 'Democratic Union Roundtable' (MUD) in the convened process of renewal," said a ruling of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), which authorizes the country's electoral authority to reschedule party re-registration for six months.
The move comes days after the ruling Constituent Assembly – an all-powerful body loyal to President Nicolas Maduro – said the country's presidential vote will take place before April 30, pulling forward a poll normally held in December.
