Venezuela uprising

Chaos is erupting in the streets as attempts to oust Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro escalate to violence. Today, the country’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, urged the military to join his side since he declared himself interim president three months ago. Today, anti-government demonstrators clashed with troops loyal to Maduro. A warning, you may find the footage disturbing.

Global Affairs Canada says they are monitoring the events in Venezuela very closely and say they fully support interim president Guaido and the Venezuelan people in their struggle toward democracy.

Guaido spoke to large crowds today at the opposition rally in downtown Caracas where he said “today it is clear that the armed forces are with the people of Venezuela and not the dictator”. Saying that Operation Freedom has begun.

In a news conference today, a spokesperson for the United Nations secretary-general spoke on the violence, as the US also threw their support behind the opposition.

In January, Guaido invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s re-election in 2018 was illegitimate through a fraudulent and undemocratic election process. More than 50 countries, including Canada, also do not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling him an illegitimate dictator responsible for the oppression.