Tense Venezuela faces fresh street protests

CARACAS: Opponents of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro vow fresh street protests on Thursday after earlier unrest left dozens of people injured as tension mounts over moves to keep him in power. It was the latest step in a political crisis that is raising concerns for democracy and stability in the volatile major oil exporter.

Street protests are one of the few options left for the centre-right opposition to increase pressure on Maduro, whom they blame for the country’s economic crisis.

Negotiations have failed and he has resisted international pressure, while retaining the backing of the military and control of most state institutions.

The opposition has taken to the streets accusing Supreme Court judges of attempting an internal “coup d’etat” last week.

“We are calling the people into the street to support our demand for the judges to be removed,” said senior opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara.

The judges last week issued rulings transferring the National Assembly’s legislative powers to their court and revoking lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution.

The court later reversed the rulings after an international outcry, but kept in place other measures limiting the assembly’s powers. On Wednesday opposition lawmakers launched an effort to fire the judges. That looked unlikely to succeed since the removal of the judges depends on other state institutions loyal to the government.

“They have carried out an ongoing internal coup,” senior opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup told the assembly. “We have to escape from it by civil protests, exercising our constitutional functions and not giving in to a failed, outlaw government.”

Scores of people were hurt on Tuesday when riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest march in Caracas, opposition groups said. On Wednesday, similar clashes broke out in the western city of San Cristobal, scene of deadly riots and looting last year, and in the city of Valencia.