Six months after the Venezuelan opposition gained control of the National Assembly, it is becoming increasingly clear that one of its primary goals — a referendum to recall the president — will probably not come to fruition this year. In early May, the opposition coalition submitted signatures collected from a nationwide campaign in a bid to get the referendum process started. But because that process requires the approval of the National Electoral Council, the administration of President Nicolas Maduro can delay it considerably. And in all likelihood the government will try to stall the vote, if not cancel it outright. Pushing off a recall referendum until after January 2017 would enable the vice president to succeed Maduro, whereas a successful vote in 2016 would trigger new elections. If that happens, opposition candidates will have an opportunity to contest the presidency. From the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela’s (PSUV’s) […]