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Bloomberg
Opponents of Venezuela’s socialist regime marched in Caracas as pressure builds at home and abroad for President Nicolas Maduro to step down.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who’s vying to set up a caretaker government, rallied his supporters to the streets as a deadline imposed by several European Union countries to hold a presidential election expires. The US and two dozen other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader and have ratcheted up pressure on the ruling socialists to cede power.
By 11 am on Saturday, thousands of people had gathered under the bright sun at the main avenue of the Las Mercedes district in eastern Caracas, where Guaido is set to speak later in the day.
“We’re here for Venezuela’s freedom and our children’s well-being,†said Maribel Rondon, 64, holding a Venezuelan flag as she marched with two friends. “We’re going through a lot of hardship in Venezuela because of Maduro. He needs to go.”
The protest is another test of endurance of support for Guaido, 35, whom the National Assembly proclaimed as interim president on January 23. Though Maduro has prevented Guaido from leaving the country, he has let him free to make pronouncements, speak with foreign leaders and hold daytime rallies. At the same time, Maduro has sought to tamp them down through information blackouts, intimidation and violence.