- Tweeter
republish
The Venezuelan opposition, led by self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido, was marching on Wednesday to convince the army to turn its back on President Nicolas Maduro, who is trying to close ranks.
"Armed Forces, regain your dignity", "Maduro usurper", "I only want Nicolas leave", "Guaido president", "No more dictatorship", urged the banners brandished by thousands of people in different parts of the country, typing on saucepans or ringing fog horns.
"Humanitarian aid, health crisis" shouted the demonstrators, while the oil country is in full economic wreck.
That the military " let in humanitarian aid and stand on the side of the people, " pleaded with AFP Jaime Regalado, came with a Venezuelan flag on the square Altamira, Caracas.
Shortly before this mobilization, Juan Guaido, 35-year-old MP and head of the opposition-controlled parliament, received Donald Trump's telephone encouragement. According to the White House, the two men " agreed to stay in regular contact to support the return to stability in Venezuela ." What to lend to the accusations of Nicolas Maduro, who cries to the coup orchestrated by Washington.
Overseeing military maneuvers in Caracas, the socialist leader called the army for unity and " a great military moral revolution ," in the face of calls for rebellion from the United States and Juan Guaido, who promised them amnesty.
" You want to rule a puppet of " gringos " in Venezuela ? "Then," he said in a meeting with young Venezuelans, who answered in chorus: " Nooooooon! "
International pressure
Juan Guaido demands the establishment of a transitional government and then free general elections, supported in this sense by the United States as well as a large part of Latin America and Europe.
Nicolas Maduro replied to the Russian public agency RIA Novosti that the last presidential election took place " ten months ago " and that if the " imperialists " want a new one " they have only to wait until 2025 ", or the end of his term.
But " it would be very good to hold parliamentary elections sooner, " he said.
Parliament is precisely the only institution controlled by the opposition, even though most of its prerogatives have been confiscated by a Constituent Assembly composed solely of supporters of the head of state.
Nicolas Maduro is also ready to " sit down at the negotiating table with the opposition ". An option already rejected by Juan Guaido, who fears a " false dialogue ".
In an interview with the German daily Bild Wednesday, the opponent, now struck by a ban on leaving the country, calls for " more sanctions " from the European Union against the " dictatorship " of Maduro.
The EU said on Saturday that it would " take action " if elections were not convened " in the coming days ", including regarding " recognition of leadership " in the country.
Six European countries (Spain, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Portugal) have even given Nicolas Maduro until Sunday to do so, otherwise they will recognize his opponent.
The organization of early elections does not meet the European demand, said Wednesday the head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian, indicating that the EU foreign ministers will meet Thursday " to verify the follow-up to the nonresponse of President Maduro ".
New events are planned Saturday across the country.
(With AFP)