The self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido wants to force a decision in weeks of power struggle with the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro a decision. On Saturday he announced a large march of government opponents from across the country to the capital Caracas. But Maduro does not want to give up.
„Hard days are coming up. The regime will try to split us, „he said at a rally in the Venezuelan capital. „In this fight, it is fundamental that we continue to take to the streets.“ In the coming days, he wanted to move with opposition MPs across the country and win in the province people for a march on Caracas.
„The conquest of space will be peaceful, constitutional and orderly,“ he wrote on Twitter. However, he also made it clear that the time had expired for the „false dialogue“. In recent years, the government and the opposition have tried several times to settle the crisis with talks. The negotiations were always in the sand.
Intervention from abroad is not excluded
Guaido spoke from the back of a pickup truck to his followers after security forces prevented the construction of a stage at the originally scheduled rally site. Around 20 armored vehicles blocked a highway there.
Guaido assured, if necessary to rely on an intervention from abroad, „when the time has come“. Citing the constitution, he said that this would allow a Venezuelan military mission abroad „or by foreigners in the country“. „All options are on the table,“ the opposition leader called, referring to a quote from US President Donald Trump, who repeatedly had not ruled out a US military operation in Venezuela.
Guaido wants to end „darkness, hunger and misery“
Guaido has already secured international support, has access to foreign accounts and keeps trying to pull the military to his side. But the question of power is ultimately decided on the streets of Caracas. To force Maduro to his knees, he must increase the pressure.
The annoyance of many Venezuelans about the power failures of the past few days could play him in the cards. „For the darkness, the hunger and the misery to end, the unlawful seizure of power must cease,“ he said at the rally.
Fatalities in case of power failure
Recently, the crisis state was paralyzed by a massive power outage. Parts of the country had been cut off from the electricity supply since Thursday evening. According to the non-governmental organization Medicos por la Salud, at least 17 patients died during the blackout in the country’s hospitals. Guaido had previously even spoken of at least 79 fatalities.
The government blamed a US cyber attack on the country’s power supply for the power outage. In addition, the power plants were infiltrated by government opponents. „We are in difficult times,“ said President Maduro on Saturday. „But we have already mastered great challenges in recent years, and with revolutionary courage, we will be able to create these.“
In parallel with the protest of the opposition, Maduro also drummed his supporters into a demonstration against „imperialism“. „Today we are more than ever anti-imperialists. We will never surrender! „Wrote the head of state in the text message service Twitter.
His followers 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.
