Venezuela’s right-wing opposition took to the streets in Caracas Thursday in a menacing march to prod state elections officials to speed up the legal process for a recall referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office before the end of 2016.
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Venezuela’s opposition supporters decked in white poured onto the streets of Caracas today, chanting “this government will fall”.
Demonstrators swelled city streets in the Venezuelan capital on Thursday as they marched in the protest “Taking of Caracas”.
Maduro has consistently said it will not happen this year. “Because Venezuela”s problems largely stem from poor government administration, a swift transition to a democratic, transparent and efficient government is the only way to redirect the country ” It is well past time for a political transition in Venezuela.”.
The government used tear-gas to disperse some protesters, and jailed opposition leaders and blocked foreign media ahead of the demonstration.
“Today is the beginning of the final stage of our fight”, said Jesus Torrealba, secretary-general of the Democratic Unity alliance.
Thousands of Maduro supporters in red T-shirts and caps meanwhile rallied in the central Plaza Bolivar yelling to their leader: “The people are with you”. The number of participants was estimated at fewer than 30,000. “They have failed once again. The victory is ours”.
His popularity has plunged as many Venezuelans blamed their hunger on his economic mismanagement and accuse the electoral commission of deliberately delaying a referendum that could shorten his stay in power.
At the pro-government rally, 37-year-old housewife Carolina Aponte said: “We are here at the call of our president, to defend the revolution”.
Opposition leaders announced they would hold new rallies on September 7 and 14 to press the electoral authorities to move faster on setting up the referendum.
Senior opposition figure Henrique Capriles said on Thursday that two mayors had also been arrested.
The opposition has staged a half-dozen or so marches this year, some of which ended in clouds of tear gas as hard-core activists clashed with riot police, but posed no major risk to Mr Maduro’s grip on power. The next protests are set for September 7 and 14.
The timing is all-important because if a plebiscite were held in 2017 and Maduro lost, his handpicked vice president would take over for the ruling Socialist Party, rather than triggering a new presidential election.
But, according to the Constitution, if Maduro loses the vote after that date, he could select a vice president to lead the country.
A coalition of 28 Venezuelan non-governmental organizations, including the Venezuelan Institute for Social and Political Studies, has urged Maduro’s regime to not react violently if protesters remain peaceful.
Dozens of city blocks were choked with people angry about growing food shortages and an inflation rate that is expected to top 700 percent this year.
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Maduro said Thursday he had prepared a decree to strip politicians in the National Assembly of their immunity. He accused the opposition speaker of the legislature, Henry Ramos Allup, of inciting violence. This authorizes the United States to impose sanctions and take measures against several named officials of the Venezuelan government.
