It's an election that the opposition is boycotting a most Western nations call a fraud by President Nicolas Maduro to retake the last state institution, not in the hands of the ruling Socialist Party.

The vote is almost certain to return Congress to Maduro's allies.

That's despite his government struggling with an economy in ruins, aggressive US sanctions that stifle the OPEC nations, oil exports on the migration of some five million citizens.

Members of the new Congress will have few tools to improve the lives of Venezuelans, whose monthly salaries rarely cover the cost of a day's groceries.

Nor will their election improved Maduro's reputation among Western nations for mismanagement and undermining of human rights.

It could, however, provide legitimacy for Maduro, so offer investment deals to the few companies around the world willing to risk running afoul of Washington sanctions access to the world's largest oil reserves.

Opposition leader Wang Guido, head of the current congress, is calling on Venezuelans to skip the vote and participate in a consultation that will ask citizens if they reject Sunday's vote whether they want to change of government.

Guido has been recognized by more than 50 countries, including the United States.

A Sven is way La's legitimate interim president after most Western nations disavowed Maduro's 2018 reelection as fraudulent.