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Venezuela Crisis And Colombia Peace Dominate Latin American Summit

Venezuela's political crisis and Colombia's stuttering peace process will probably dominate the Ibero-American Summit, instead of an official agenda about youth, entrepreneurship and education. Venezuela's socialist government is facing an escalation of opposition protests, after electoral authorities suspended a referendum on President Nicolas Maduro's rule, which could have led to his departure from office. The country has the world's largest oil reserves, but faces a prolonged recession made worse by currency depreciation and low oil prices. All those issues cause many people to skip meals due to shortages and soaring prices. Meanwhile Colombia, who is hosting the summit, is scrambling to save a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The deal was rejected in a plebiscite vote this month by less than half a percentage point. Summit leaders support the peace process, which would end 52 years of war that have killed nearly a quarter of a million people.