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Venezuela says presidential elections hinge on lifting international sanctions

The Venezuelan government said holding presidential elections in 2018 is contingent on the lifting of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other nations, Bloomberg News reported.

Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez reportedly said Dec. 4 that the 2018 presidential vote and a deal with opposition lawmakers will hinge on "the lifting of the vulgar sanctions the Venezuelan right wing's leadership requested of Donald Trump's Treasury Department as well as Spanish, Canadian and other authorities."

In a televised address following two days of talks between the Nicolas Maduro-led government and opposition parties, Rodriguez claimed the sanctions have kept the country from purchasing medicine, food and industrial raw materials.

The Venezuelan constitution requires presidential elections to be held every six years, but authorities have not yet announced a date for the 2018 vote, despite demands from opposition legislators that a detailed electoral calendar be published, Bloomberg News reported.

The U.S. has issued a slew of sanctions on Maduro, calling him a "dictator," and other officials. The European Union has imposed economic sanctions, citing irregularities in October's regional elections, and Canada also imposed sanctions on 40 government officials, including Maduro.