Fourth opposition politician in last month banned from office in Venezuela

• Former state governor Pablo Perez has been disqualified from holding office for 10 years by the comptroller’s office in what government critics say is a crackdown on political opposition ahead of Venezuela’s upcoming elections.
• A former legislator and two ex-mayors have also been banned as the country has descended into economic turmoil, weakening support for President Nicolas Maduro.
• Demonstrations protesting the bans and calling for free elections have been planned, though President Maduro has used violence in those protests as grounds for banning politicians from running.

Read the full story at Reuters.

(Image Credit: Isaac Urrutia/Reuters)