Barricades of rubbish and bins blocked streets in Venezuela yesterday in big protests against President Nicolas Maduro that threaten to intensify after he called for the constitution to be rewritten.
His plan, announced on Monday, has inflamed the Opposition, which is calling for even bigger demonstrations to demand elections. A “mega protest” is planned for today.
International concern is also rising. The US condemned Maduro’s announcement said it was a bid to cling to power, while Brazil’s foreign minister called it a “coup”.
The Venezuelan Opposition says the gambit further weakens the chances of holding a vote to remove Maduro, whom they blame for an economic crisis that has sparked food shortages and rioting.
Maduro said the process to bring in a new constitution was necessary to fend off what he describes as an attempted foreign-backed “coup” against him.
