The United States “dreams of dividing” a “Chavista” military fiercely loyal to Venezuela’s socialist government, president Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday, as the military comes under scrutiny in the crisis-gripped OPEC nation.

Maduro and the opposition are at loggerheads over a referendum to recall him. Authorities say the vote will not happen this year, while the opposition says an unpopular Maduro must be removed to keep a brutal recession from worsening.

Some opposition supporters hope factions of Venezuela’s opaque but powerful military will nudge the former bus driver and union leader to allow the vote.

Read more at Reuters

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