Neither rain nor shine stop ebullient Venezuelans from voting in opposition’s presidential primary

By REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans are choosing the candidate they think can end the decade-long, crisis-ridden presidency of Nicolás Maduro. They are voting in a primary election on Sunday that the country’s opposition organized independently despite government repression and other obstacles. It’s the first presidential primary held in Venezuela since 2012, and setting up the election required the groups that make up the deeply fractured opposition to work together. But it could prove an exercise in futility, if Maduro’s government so wishes. While the government agreed in principle to allow the opposition to choose its candidate, it also has barred the primary front-runner from running for public office.