Maduro opponents claim big turnout in Venezuelan protest
Droves of Venezuelans blaming President Nicola´s Maduro for their country’s collapse voiced their frustrations on Sunday in a creative protest rivalling recent elections they boycotted as fraudulent.
In the so-called “people’s consultation”, Us-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido´ urged Venezuelans at home and around the world to register their ire through cellphone apps. Others visited makeshift polling stations in cities across Venezuela and in other Latin American Nations, the US and Europe.
“Hope has been mobilised in Venezuela,” Guaido´ said shortly before the results were announced.
“We must underscore a heroic peoplewhomobilised throughout the country and the world in defence of their rights.”
Opposition leaders reported that nearly 6.5 million people responded to the survey. The Associated Press could not independently verify the validity of the figures.
The opposition’s report said more than 3.2 million participated in person within Venezuela and nearly 850,000 visited centres outside the country, while more than 2.5 million sent in their responses digitally.
The survey asked whether people want to end Maduro’s rule and hold fresh presidential and legislative elections, and also seek even greater pressure from international allies to make it happen.
Though the event had no legal force, opposition leaders said the survey would unify the foes of Maduro.
That includes the 5 million Venezuelans who have fled the nation’s hyperinflation and lack of basic services, they said.
Mirla De Lorenzo, a bank employee, visited a centre in her Caracas
neighbourhood to participate, saying she would take any opportunity to express herself if there was any chance it could bring international attention to Venezuela’s plight and trigger an end to Maduro’s rule.
“We’re definitely tired of this situation that’s brought us nothing but poverty,” she said, adding that her daughter moved to Spain and her sister migrated to Chile, among relatives who have fled the crisis.
“You can’t compete with deceitful people, with people who use force, with people who have weapons,” she said. “There is no way.”
The consultation came days after Maduro’s ruling socialist party declared victory in congressional elections that Guaido´’s coalition boycotted, arguing the vote was a fraud.
The United States and European Union are among nations and regional bodies that rejected the elections as undemocratic.
Guaido´, acting as the National Assembly’s leader, proclaimed himself interim president in early 2019, arguing that Maduro was an illegitimate leader because his most popular challengers were barred from running in the presidential election the previous year.
Guaido´ quicklywon broad support at home among energised supporters who flooded the streets as well as the backing of leaders in dozens of nations, including the US.
Nearly two years later, however, Maduro remains in power with control of the military and international allies including Iran, Russia, China, Turkey and Cuba.
On January 5, the term of the current opposition-dominated National Assembly ends and Maduro’s political allies take over the last governmental body not controlled by the president’s socialist party.
Guaido´ and his political allies vow to continue fighting. — AP