caracas venezuelans vote sunday nationwide mayoral poll boycott major opposition party likely help leftist president nicolas maduro consolidate power ahead probable 2018 re-election bid withstand massive street protest international sanction dissent within rule socialist party 55-year-old president saw candidates win surprise majority october gubernatorial elections 335 mayorships grab socialists seem certain repeat feat help opposition abstentionism would delight maduro international opprobrium face year crumble opposition coalition main party justice first popular democratic action opt sunday vote allege election system bias design purely keep dictatorship power crazy participate say political analyst dimitris pantoulas government likely one best result history ... maduro strong election political momentum socialists already hold 70 percent venezuela mayorships forecast increase share extend grip grassroots level maduro mull stand second six-year term opec nation despite preside one bad economic meltdowns hit country modern history rat barely half elect maduro enjoy political upturn october gubernatorial vote favorite government candidate 2018 presidential election could win opposition re-unite re-enthuse supporters despite boycott major party moderate opposition supporters still plan vote sunday argue way stop socialists amass power small party field candidates fuel acrimony in-fighting within coalition huge frustration everything happen year ... throw towel say one candidates yon goicoechea progressive advance party jail allegedly plot maduro goicoechea run el hatillo mayorship outside caracas say achieve democracy maybe months maybe years fight weapon vote election take place end fourth year crush economic recession bring hunger hardship shortages venezuelans yet opposition disarray maduro ally buoyant go great victory say erika farias run caracas district mayorship fulfil legacy commander hugo chavez many venezuelans angry government opposition independents register sunday mayorship race though still sign third-way presidential candidate country demand alternative mine protest campaign say nicmer evans run farias capital libertador district recently-founded party new vision country well mayoral elections voters oil-rich western zulia state choose new governor opposition take state october gubernatorial race election annul win candidate juan pablo guanipa refuse swear loyalty pro-maduro legislative superbody result expect start come sunday even opposition split venezuela mayoral vote strengthen maduro