Mass protests in Venezuela call for end of Maduro presidency
CARACAS, Venezuela — Anti-government protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela’s capital on Wednesday on the heels of a decision by congress to open a political trial against President Nicolas Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators shut down Caracas’ main highway, and schools and shops were closed as protesters occupied other key points around the city to demand the ouster of Mr. Maduro, whom many Venezuelans blame for triple-digit inflation and shortages of food, medicines and other basic goods.
In other major cities, protesters clashed with police in what opposition leaders were calling “the takeover of Venezuela.”
“Maduro has shown how scared he is that the people will express themselves,” opposition leader Henrique Capriles said.
The protests come after electoral authorities blocked a recall campaign against the deeply unpopular president last week. The face-off escalated Tuesday when the oppositionled legislature voted to put Mr. Maduro on trial, accusing him of effectively staging a coup.
Opposition legislators argued that Venezuela’s leader has effectively abandoned the presidency by neglecting his job.
Government supporters staged a much smaller rally attended by Mr. Maduro downtown
Opposition leaders ended Wednesday’s national day of protest with call for a general strike Friday. They also threatened to march on the presidential palace in the heart of the city Nov. 3 if the government doesn’t reverse its decision to block the recall effort.
Police fired tear gas and clashes with police in provincial capitals that left several wounded. In a video widely circulating on social media, a young man shouted in the face of soldier in riot gear maintaining a line against a crowd of masked protester.
“I’m going hungry! If you’re going to shoot me because I’m hungry, shoot me,” the protester said.
Even as tempers flare, the government and opposition have agreed on an attempt at dialogue to defuse the crisis.
Talks sponsored by the Vatican and other South American governments are set to begin Sunday in the Caribbean island of Margarita.
Mr. Maduro, who met with Pope Francis privately at the Vatican on Monday, said he will travel to Margarita to personally launch the talks.