Venezuela opposition shifts strategy, will take part in elections

Venezuela's opposition leader Freddy Guevara speaks during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela August 31, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's main opposition parties said on Tuesday they will participate in November regional and local elections, a strategy reversal after boycotting previous elections they argued were not free or fair.

The opposition's decision https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-opposition-parties-announce-participation-regional-vote-sources-say-2021-08-30 was made as a more-than two-year push to oust President Nicolas Maduro through international pressure and calls for the military to switch allegiances has failed. Opponents label Maduro a dictator who rigged his 2018 re-election and violates human rights to quash dissent.