Venezuelan opposition calls for change as campaign wraps up

Members of the 2021 EU Electoral Observation Mission in Venezuela meets with members of Fuerza Vecinal party, ahead of Sunday's election for local councils, mayors and governors in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

MARACAIBO / BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Campaigning closed on Thursday for Venezuela's regional election with opposition parties - returning to the polls https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/with-catchy-jingles-cautious-optimism-venezuela-opposition-returns-ballot-2021-11-17 for the first time in four years - appealing to voters to punish the ruling Socialists for hyper-inflation and a deep recession.

Sunday's election for state governors, mayors and city councils is a major test for the fragmented opposition, which boycotted the presidential polls in 2018 and congressional elections two years later accusing Maduro's government of fraud.