Venezuelan Opponents: Maduro Will Fall

The leader of the opposition coalition against Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, has sharply criticized the declaration of a "state of emergency" in the country, stating that the "desperate President" is losing support even from his own party members. Nicolás Maduro, the leftist president, announced on Friday, May 13, that due to "conspiracies in Venezuela and from the United States" against him, a 60-day state of emergency would be implemented. He did not provide further details regarding these "conspiracies." However, the announcement has faced strong opposition from Maduro's opponents. During a rally on May 14, Maduro's opponents claimed that these actions reflect the president's concern over efforts to hold a referendum aimed at ending his presidency prematurely. Reuters quoted Jesus Torrealba, the Secretary-General of the "Democratic Unity" coalition, stating that "the desperate president has pushed himself to the margins of rights and the constitution." According to Torrealba, "if the state of emergency is declared without consulting the National Assembly (Venezuelan Parliament), the country is effectively heading towards a political coup." The leader of the Venezuelan opposition coalition claims that Maduro is even losing supporters within his own party. Torrealba spoke at a demonstration in Caracas where Maduro's opponents chanted, "He will fall." Last December, the opposition managed to gain a majority in the "National Assembly" of Venezuela, currently holding 109 out of 167 seats. The coalition, known as "Democratic Unity," is made up of all Maduro's opponents and is considered a "moderate" group. Less than a month ago, they called for a referendum to remove the president before the end of his legal term. Recent events have occurred as Venezuela faces severe energy shortages, leading the government to significantly reduce working hours for employees, increase school closures, and even advance the official time. According to the Associated Press, Maduro threatened to close down factories that are "underperforming" and imprison their owners. Last month, Empresas Polar, the largest food and beverage distributor in the country, significantly reduced its operations due to severe inflation. The Venezuelan president has accused Polar and some other factories of deliberately creating shortages of essential goods. Reuters reports that polls indicate nearly 70% of Venezuelan citizens want Maduro to resign this year. He came to power in April 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez. Executive power in Venezuela is granted to the president for a six-year term.