Preparatory process for a referendum in Venezuela stopped

Several district courts in Venezuela have not recognized signatures of voters in supporting a referendum on the impeachment of President Nicolas Maduro, as not valid.

Now the second stage of the preparation of the referendum, which was to begin Monday, will be indefinitely postponed. Moreover, the initiators will correct violations made during the first stage and redo collecting signatures.

During the first phase, the opposition had to collect 1% of the population votes in favor of holding a referendum. In the second stage, it will need to collect over 20% of the vote by no more than a week.

However, even after the first phase, apparent irregularities were reported during the collection. There were identified «dead souls», the voices of young and forged signatures. Judicial proceedings were opened because of these gross violations.