Venezuela's opposition coalition likely to boycott presidential vote

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waves during the set sail event of the Simon Bolivar training ship, Venezuelan navy's flagship, in La Guaira, Venezuela February 17, 2018. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

CARACAS (Reuters) - Leaders of Venezuela's opposition coalition appeared likely on Monday to decide on a boycott of the April presidential election, believing authorities have rigged it for President Nicolas Maduro and his ruling socialists.

Maduro, the 55-year-old successor of Hugo Chavez, is seeking re-election in the April 22 vote despite his unpopularity and a crushing economic crisis. But critics say the election is a farce, with Maduro's main rivals barred from standing and a compliant election body bound to favour the socialists.