Wednesday’s demonstrations in the capital were the first major test of a state of emergency that President Nicolas Maduro imposed this week that gives broad powers to security forces in order to ensure public order.
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While Mr. Capriles made it clear that the opposition was not calling for a military coup, but rather emphasizing what he regards as the unconstitutional powers the decree bestows, such a direct plea to the Army carries inherent danger.
In recent days, Maduro has railed against alleged interference from the U.S. and elsewhere that he says is part of a campaign to remove his government from power by illegitimate means. No minister is above the constitution.
The mandate allows the government to consolidate enough power to, among other things, deal with an alleged coup planned by foreign countries, including the US and the participation of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, whom Maduro has blamed for attempting to remove him. “Either they solve this problem, or we’re going to have to take to the streets”.
Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament has rejected a state of emergency that President Nicolas Maduro decreed over a nation suffering from food shortages and a crumbling economy.
He said Washington had “imperial” designs on Venezuela, adding that a US AWACS surveillance plane had twice violated his country’s airspace last week.
But the Venezuelan leader, the handpicked successor to late president Hugo Chavez, has dug in.
Around him, people swat mosquitoes, cradle babies and swap stories about skipping breakfast or surviving on plantains and yucca in what they now wrily call the “Maduro diet”.
“If Maduro wants to apply this decree he will have to bring out the warplanes and the tanks into the street, because he will have to apply it through force”, opposition leader Henrique Capriles told a news conference, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.
“Obviously what is happening here is the opposition is sensing that the possibility of democratic engagement with the government is waning”, says Dr. Nagel, co-author of the self-described “opposition-leaning” Caracas Chronicles, in a telephone interview.
Venezuela has seen constant small-scale protests in recent weeks against widespread water and electricity cuts.
The opposition coalition, which won control of the National Assembly in December, wants a referendum to oust Maduro.
“It is time to put this discussion on the table, and make the Venezuelan Government accountable to the OAS for the dramatic erosion of the rule of law in the country”.
Venezuela is facing a serious economic crisis, with high inflation and shortage of many basic goods.
The double incursion comes as rightwing politicians at home and overseas step up their demands for military intervention against Maduro’s government.
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If the referendum does go ahead, it must be held before January 10, 2017 in order to trigger new elections.
