Show of force of power in Caracas
A demonstration bringing together thousands of supporters of President Maduro took place on Saturday in the streets of the Venezuelan capital.
President Maduro concluded the protest with a speech.
AFP
Thousands of government supporters marched through Caracas on Saturday on World Youth Day, an important annual event in Venezuela, showing their support for President Nicolas Maduro as the opposition demonstration drew some 500 people. The two processions did not cross paths.
Drums, salsa, Venezuelan flags, the Chavistas – named after Hugo Chavez, a figure of the Latin American radical left and late predecessor of Mr. Maduro – carried out a sort of show of force in the streets of the capital. The power had mobilized its party and chartered buses to bring in activists from all regions of the country.
“Chavez sets the tone, Maduro is behind the wheel,” read a banner. “This courageous youth is following their dreams and continuing to fight for their homeland,” Maria Amatima, 26, host, told AFP.
500 people in the opposition demonstration
Acclaimed, President Maduro concluded the demonstration with a speech: “I ask you (the young people) to help me (…) against corruption and bureaucracy… I come to ask you for help”. The re-election of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela in 2018 in a vote boycotted by the opposition is not recognized by part of the international community and in particular the United States, which is seeking to oust him from power.
Not far from there, some 500 people, including opposition leader Juan Guaido, gathered for a shorter parade. Guaido also gave a speech calling in particular for “unity”, three months after the defeat of a divided opposition in regional elections (one-round ballot) in November.
“We pledge today to fight (…) we must strengthen unity, “he said, promising to revive the street protests which had shaken power in 2019 but which ended up running out of steam: “ We are going to return (…) to the place where freedoms are exercised: the street”.
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