Election registration was meant to start on March 18 and will run for a month, before the July 28 vote in which President Nicolas Maduro is seeking a third term.
Analysts say it is President Nicolas Maduro who will reap the spoils. The 61-year-old is seeking a third term in power which would see him rule for a total of 18 years.
Venezuela and Argentina in Row After Nicolas Maduro Regime Accused of Cutting Embassy s Power After Meeting With Opposition Leaders latinpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from latinpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With popular leader Maria Corina Machado banned from public office, the plan had been to register another stand-in candidate, 80-year-old university professor Corina Yoris.
The Nicolas Maduro regime's crackdown against critics continues in Venezuela, and recent reports have shown that last month, a prominent manager for oil giant Chevron was arrested too.