Maduro Tightens Grip on Power in Venezuela with Latest Elections

Nicolas Maduro has solidified his power over Venezuela following this weekend’s regional and parliamentary election, which his ruling party said it won in a landslide, while the opposition called for a boycott of the vote and claims turnout was below 15%. Maduro, who has ruled the country with the world’s largest crude oil reserves since 2013, could incur even more sanctions from the United States on the oil industry and state oil firm PDVSA. Venezuela’s electoral council, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists, said that the…