Fresh wave of mass Venezuela protests hopes to unseat China-backed Maduro and let US aid in
- The rallies will take place nearly three weeks since opposition chief Juan Guaido declared himself the country’s president, saying Maduro’s re-election last year was a sham
- But while many Western nations have backed the opposition leader, powerful Russia and China and Venezuela’s military have thrown their support behind Maduro
Venezuela’s opposition supporters were preparing to launch nationwide street protests on Tuesday to keep up the heat on embattled China-backed President Nicolas Maduro and to call on him to let humanitarian aid into the country where food and medicine shortages are rife.
The rallies will take place nearly three weeks to the day that opposition chief Juan Guaido invoked a constitutional provision to declare himself Venezuela’s legitimate president, arguing that Maduro’s re-election last year was a sham.
Most Western counties including the United States have recognised Guaido as Venezuela’s president, but Maduro retains the backing of powerful nations like Russia and China as well as control of state institutions including the military.
The two sides are now at loggerheads over the issue of humanitarian aid, which the opposition says has become necessary due to Maduro’s mishandling of the once-buoyant OPEC nation’s economy.
The 35-year-old Guaido is coordinating Western relief efforts. Maduro, who denies there is a crisis, denounces the aid as a US-orchestrated show and is blocking the entry of supplies.