Venezuela to set presidential election date on Monday

CARACAS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday said the National Electoral Council (CNE) will announce a date on Monday for the upcoming presidential elections.

"I have been informed that on Monday the National Electoral Council is going to set the date for (the) presidential elections," Maduro said during a meeting with supporters in Caracas.

On Saturday, Maduro urged the CNE to set an election date "without delay."

The National Constituent Assembly (ANC), the country's top legislative organ, had earlier voted to move forward the December elections to a time before an April 30 deadline, but had yet to specify a date.

Maduro also reiterated that the country will hold the elections "with or without" the participation of the right-wing opposition, which boycotted the elections last year to elect the members of the ANC.

The move backfired, with millions of Venezuelans going to the polls despite the opposition's campaign to keep voters away. Enditem