A high-profile Venezuelan opposition leader is calling for protests while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro travels abroad seeking help for the financially struggling nation.
Tensions have escalated in recent days as the socialist administration has deployed troops and implemented a rationing system to control lines at government-run supermarkets.
Miranda State Governor Henrique Capriles, who nearly defeated Maduro in the 2013 presidential election, said on Monday that it is time for public demonstrations.
Photo: AFP
“We are in a state of emergency,” he said. “This is the time to mobilize in the streets.”
Capriles did not support protests that were called by more radical opposition leaders in spring last year. Those protests wracked the nation for months and left more than 40 people dead.
Maduro has been out of the country for more than a week, visiting China and members of OPEC to push for a cut in output. Oil prices have fallen by more than half since June last year, battering Venezuela’s already staggering economy.
Oil accounts for more than 95 percent of Venezuela’s export earnings.
Venezuela is seeing unprecedented lines, even in its shortage-plagued history, with people lining up overnight to buy necessities like soap, milk and diapers. The national government has deployed military guards to maintain order as stocks run low after long winter holidays.
Many items have become impossible to find even on the thriving black market. At least one upscale Caracas hotel is no longer providing laundry service — unless guests bring their own detergent.
On Monday, police began enforcing a policy that limits patrons to two shopping days a week at government-run supermarkets, where prices are much lower.
Food Security Minister Carlos Osorio drew jeers last week when he said that the existence of long lines proved that Venezuela has plenty of food.
Otherwise, he said, there would be nothing to line up for.
Authorities have begun arresting people protesting the shortages. The human rights group Penal Forum reported that a dozen demonstrators were released on Monday.
Analysts say more than foreign loans, unpopular domestic economic reforms are needed to fix the economy. Last month, Bank of America economist Francisco Rodriguez made headlines by predicting that the country could see four-digit annual inflation without such adjustments.
On Monday, Maduro said that he had lined up billions of US dollars in financing from Middle East allies “that will give us enough oxygen to cover the fall in oil prices.”
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