The conclusions stress that the elections were a missed opportunity for democracy, held without a national agreement on electoral conditions, and failed to comply with the international standards for a democratic process. The Council reiterates the EU’s call for the guarantee of all political and civil rights, for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and for the freedom and safety of all political opponents. Full Text-> EuropeanCouncil

Instead, Guaidó and other opposition lawmakers are sponsoring a week-long referendum asking Venezuelans to reject Maduro’s “usurpation of the presidency” and the elections on Sunday. Participating in the vote “will only benefit the regime and its accomplices,” Guaidó has tweeted. “The best thing we can do is leave the voting center alone.” By Ana Vanessa Herrero and Karen DeYoung. Full Text -> TheWashingtinPost

But Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra is now stepping further into the political spotlight. He’s campaigning for a seat in Venezuela’s congress, the last institution that had been out of the ruling socialist party’s grasp, in a Sunday election that the U.S. and dozens of other countries see as a move by his father to tighten an illegitimate grip on power.By Fabiola Sánchez. Full Text -> TorontoStar

A rigged vote will end the opposition’s control of the last democratically elected institution. Full Text -> TheEconomist

This Sunday, the regime of Nicolas Maduro will hold a sham parliamentary election in Venezuela. The purpose of this “election” is to renew the Venezuelan National Assembly, which is the only institution controlled by the Venezuelan opposition, and the only institution internationally recognized as legitimate and democratic. By holding this fraudulent election, the Maduro regime hopes to bring down its only domestic threat: the interim government of Juan Guaido. By Jorge Jraissati. Full Text -> NationalReview

That’s what the PSUV vice president asked women to say in their homes, to lead participation in the upcoming “elections”; Venezuelan oil exports tripled in November, but the crisis carries on. By Naky Soto. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles

The elections to renew the Parliament of Venezuela, rejected by a large part of the opposition, will have more than 14,000 candidates, according to the electoral referee. But some of these candidates stand out more for their unusual origins and anecdotes from the past than for their legislative proposals.Although the list of those who could be considered as extravagant candidates far exceeds twenty, there are three that take the lead in this section: Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and the television presenters Juan Eleazar Figallo and Winston Vallenilla. Full Text-> Explica

The Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America (CEELA) Saturday continued its work of verifying every aspect of Venezuela´s election system, in view of next december 6´s legislative elections.
The National Electoral Council (NEC) and CEELA agreed this week to send an accompanying mission to the elections to renew the National Assembly. Full Text -> PrensaLatina

“The automated voting machines have been absolutely audited, consolidated and certified by our experts, by international observers and by the political parties,” Indira Alfonzo, president of the National Electoral Council, told reporters at the council’s headquarters in Caracas. Full Text -> XinhuaNet

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro criticized the delay in the US election vote count Wednesday while implying that unlike US President Donald Trump, he will accept the results of Dec. 6 parliamentary elections regardless of the outcome.  By Laura Gamba. Full Text -> Anadolu Agency