Chavismo después Chavez

[luzribeiro]

Shortages of essential goods like milk and toilet paper. Record inflation. High crime rates (at least two celebrities were shot in the recent weeks, former a Miss Venezuela and a former world boxing champion). These are among the reasons why thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets to demand the resignation of president Nicolas Maduro. The whole thing started in February as small student protests in some western districts, then grew into the biggest acts of public discontent for the last decade, and eventually reached Caracas, sucking in a number of opposition leaders. The peaceful protests were soon drowned in blood, there were clashes with the security forces, mass arrests of opposition activists, at least a dozen casualties (Maduro himself admits their number could exceed 50), etc.

Meanwhile in other places around Caracas big pro-government rallies are being held, the president appearing before the adoring crowds, casually playing the guitar, and categorically denying to have ever used excessive force for quelling the unrest.

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