For weeks, Juan Guaido has fought a fierce power struggle with the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro – now the self-appointed interim president has tried to increase the pressure with protests from his supporters. Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Caracas yesterday.
„Hard days are coming up. The regime will try to split us, „he said at a rally. „In this fight, it is fundamental that we continue to take to the streets.“ Previously, security forces had tried to stop the demonstrators on their march to the Avenida Victoria in the center.
Police stop crowd
In several places riot police blocked the street and did not let people pass, as shown on TV. According to media reports, the officials also used some pepper spray. A protester said on TVV TVV: „We live in a dictatorship – we want democracy.“
Guaido himself had declared himself interim president on 23 January and challenged President Maduro with it. He denounces that the re-election of the socialist last year did not comply with the democratic rules of the game. The US, numerous EU states such as Austria and many Latin American countries have already recognized Guaidó as the rightful transitional president.
„Unity is getting stronger every day“
Head of state Maduro drummed his followers together. They marched through downtown to the Presidential Palace of Miraflores. „We are a people who resist. That is why we will leave the difficulties behind, „said Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza at the rally. The president of the pro-government Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, called for cohesion between the people and the armed forces. „This unit is getting stronger every day,“ he said.
However, many in Venezuela are suffering from the catastrophic supply situation in the once rich country. For lack of foreign exchange, the world’s most oil-rich country can barely bring in food, medicines and everyday necessities for the needy. Many people are starving, more than three million Venezuelans have already left their homeland.
