(VOVworld) – Venezuela’s election commission on Wednesday ruled out a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro this year.

Venezuela's National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena (Photo: TTXVN)

The referendum can be held in the first quarter next year if the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) can meet all legal conditions. Before that, the opposition must collect the signatures of 20 percent of the electorate in three days between October 26 and 28. The commission approved the first phase of a recall of Maduro last August after the opposition collected the signatures of more than one percent of Venezuela's eligible voters, although many signatures were later disqualified. The opposition held massive nationwide protests to pressure the commission to hold a recall referendum this year and block an early presidential election.