Regional group says Venezuela’s move against opposition candidate ends possibility of free election

Condemnation of the Venezuelan government for its decision to block the presidential candidacy of an opposition leader strengthened Sunday when the Organization of American States declared the move eliminates any possibility of a free election this year. The regional body in a statement said the decision announced Friday against María Corina Machado, as well as the recent “prosecution and political imprisonment of opponents,” was evidence the government of President Nicolás Maduro “had no intention of allowing” a clean election.