Opponents of the Venezuelan Government Prepare for a 'Nationwide March in Caracas'

Juan Guaidó, the leader of the opposition in Venezuela, has called on citizens protesting against Nicolás Maduro to head to Caracas, the capital, for a large-scale march. On Saturday, March 9, he addressed 'all the people of Venezuela' at a gathering of opposition supporters, urging them to 'come to Caracas.' The President of the Venezuelan Parliament, who has challenged Nicolás Maduro's legitimacy as President, has not yet announced a specific date for the new protests. He stated, 'The days ahead will be hard because of the government.' Maduro's recent speech comes as a widespread power outage, the worst in decades, has entered its third day. Guaidó has claimed that the Maduro government 'has no way to solve the power crisis because it created it.' The widespread blackout has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Guaidó mentioned that before holding the 'nationwide march' in Caracas, he will travel to other cities in the country: 'When my trip is over... we will announce the exact date when everyone will gather in Caracas.' Guaidó referred to the Venezuelan Constitution, which states that 'the Venezuelan army is allowed to intervene in foreign missions, and foreigners are allowed to enter domestic affairs,' warning that he would call for foreign intervention if necessary. Earlier in March, Guaidó had also stated, 'I officially propose to the international community: we must keep all options on the table for the return of freedom to our country.' Donald Trump and the U.S. government, which recognizes Guaidó as the 'interim president' of Venezuela, have said that military action regarding Venezuela is among the options. European countries and members of the Lima Group, formed in the Americas in response to the Venezuelan crisis, have recognized Guaidó's interim presidency but warned against foreign military action in the country. Nicolás Maduro claims that the United States is seeking a pretext for 'military intervention' in Venezuela. He has also rejected the call for presidential elections, which is a demand from the opposition. In recent hours, Maduro's supporters participated in a march in Caracas. Unlike Guaidó, who has blamed the government for the widespread blackout, Maduro attributed the power outage to 'the right-wing and the empire,' claiming that this problem will soon be resolved. Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated, 'The power outages and hunger are consequences of the Maduro government's failures.' AFP has described the options and possibilities ahead in Venezuela, following the ongoing protests, as 'continued pressure until the government falls,' 'military-political agreements and negotiations,' and 'coup or foreign military intervention.' The crisis in Venezuela has been ongoing for years, with protests and gatherings of the opposition sometimes turning violent, resulting in dozens of deaths. In recent weeks, following the recognition of Guaidó's presidency by the U.S. and over 50 other countries, protests have entered a new phase.