STREET PROTESTS TARGET MADURO
Demonstrators seek president’s resignation
CARACAS • Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela’s capital on Wednesday on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against President Nicolas Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election.
Some schools and shops were shut as demonstrators marched toward key points around Caracas to demand Maduro’s ouster.
Electoral authorities blocked a recall campaign against the deeply unpopular president last week, and the faceoff escalated on Tuesday when the oppositionled legislature voted to put Maduro on trial, accusing him of effectively staging a coup.
That trial would have little legal effect since the constitution does not give congress power to oust the president and Maduro still controls other branches of government, including the military and Supreme Court, which has already declared the National Assembly illegitimate.
Artist Freddy Salazar was among the tens of thousands of protesters who filled major thoroughfares and plazas.
“We have taken to the streets so that the whole world can see that we don’t support this corrupt regime,” he said. “We are here to defend our country and our quality of life.”
Government supporters staged a much smaller protest in the heart of the city.
Protesters also rallied in other major Venezuelan cities to demand Maduro’s resignation in a nationwide show of support for the opposition leaders were calling “the takeover of Venezuela.”
Local news media reported clashes with police and tear gassing in provincial capitals. Some protesters said they had been unable to get to Caracas Wednesday as the government shut down roads and metro stations.
Although Venezuelans overwhelmingly blame Maduro for food lines and triple-digit inflation, the ruling party is in firm control of institutions like the military and has shown no interest in yielding to the opposition.
Defence Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino spoke to the nation Tuesday dressed in fatigues and surrounded by the top military command urging dialogue but calling on the opposition to respect the constitution.
That prompted an angry rebuke from National Assembly President Henry Ramos, who accused the military man of abandoning his constitutional duty to uphold Venezuela’s democracy.
“How can he talk of respecting the constitution if he has become the foremost pimp of this regime’s violation of the constitution,” Ramos said, challenging security forces to arrest him when he attempts next week to travel to Washington to denounce Maduro.