Venezuela political crisis fails to die down

Protests have become a staple in Venezuelan life. Venezuela, once one of the richest in Latin America, plunged into the political crisis
soon after President Nicolas Maduro took the helm of the country following the death of ex-president Hugo Chavez in 2013.
The latest round of protests erupted after the Supreme Court’s attempt to seize the power of the opposition-controlled Congress in favour of the ruling socialist party, a move that critics say had driven the oil-producing nation to the brink of dictatorship. Later Venezuela’s top court reversed its decision amid widespread international condemnation, including within Maduro’s party, calling it an attempted “self-coup” by Venezuela’s embattled president. Though Maduro applauded the decision of the top court, he warned regional leaders not to meddle into domestic affairs. He blasted “vulgar interventions” by foreign governments.
But the opposition has vowed to purge institutions of government
loyalists in an attempt to put an end to nearly two decades of socialist rule. The Congress is seeking to censure the seven Supreme Court judges who issued a ruling last week nullifying the body. Lawmakers said that judges must be recalled because they supported an attempted coup.
Hundreds of demonstrators braved teargas, pepper spray and water cannons as they took part in a march called by opposition-controlled National Assembly ahead of a vote by lawmakers to remove members of the country’s top court, less than a week after judges attempted to seize the power of Congress. The protest was the most violent since hundreds of thousands flooded the capital last year demanding the embattled
president’s ouster.
The goal of the protest movement is to force Venezuela’s beleaguered leader to call elections. The authorities have already cancelled an opposition campaign to hold a recall referendum on Maduro. With major opposition leader incarcerated, there is a chance that Maduro government will manipulate the electoral playing field if he has to call elections before they’re scheduled in 2018.
The international community has urged the authorities to stop using violence against Maduro opponents. Venezuela should understand that violence and use of force will not resolve the current crisis. It is the right of every Venezuelans to demonstrate peacefully to bring about an
amicable solution to the political conflict facing the country.
Faced with the reduced global oil prices, Venezuela, which has more oil than Saudi Arabia, has been beset by triple digit inflation. The country is suffering from the shortages of almost everything from toilet paper to antibiotics to food. Widespread corruption and violent crimes have aggravated the already dire situation of common man. The opposition attributes the present scenario to Chavismo legacy. The opposition-controlled legislature tried to oust Maduro but the president has held tightly to power.
The political upheaval in Venezuela has repelled foreign investments. The investors are not ready to bet on the fractured country. Maduro has totally failed to bring the country on the path of economic recovery and growth plan.