Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido launched a week-long plebiscite on Monday as President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory in legislative elections boycotted by most of his opponents and criticised by Western leaders.

Caracas, Dec. 10.– Guaidó, the country’s self-proclaimed interim president, had called for a boycott of Sunday’s legislative polls, which saw the ruling United Socialist Party claim control of an expanded 277-seat National Assembly – the only branch of government previously not in Maduro’s hands.