Venezuela electoral commission says Maduro recall cannot move ahead

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro walks to attend the ceremony marking the opening of the new court term, in Caracas, Venezuela January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's national electoral council said on Thursday opponents of President Nicolas Maduro had not collected enough signatures for a recall vote against him to proceed.

The council gave promoters of the vote 12 hours on Wednesday to collect a minimum of 4.2 million signatures, in spite of protest by opposition figures who said it was not feasible and efforts to get the decision reviewed by the country's top tribunal.