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CARACAS, Venezuela, May 15 2016 – President Nicolas Maduro has threatened to seize factories that have stopped production, and wants their owners jailed.
It comes a day after he announced a nationwide state of emergency, blaming “foreign aggression” for Venezuela’s economic crisis.
Addressing the nation Friday, Maduro declared a “constitutional state of emergency … to tend to our country and more importantly to prepare to denounce, neutralize and overcome the external and foreign aggressions against our country.”
He has also called for military exercises to take place next weekend to prepare for “any scenario,” including a foreign invasion.
Protests rocked the capital Saturday as rival factions of pro- and anti-government activists took to the street to add their voices to President Nicolas Maduro’s latest attempt to exert some control and hold onto power.
But while some marched in support of the government’s push for a “state of constitutional exception and economic emergency,” which is expected to extend into July, not all are as patient.
People throughout the country lack access to food and basic healthcare. At times, they can’t even turn on the lights — the government says extreme drought has hampered the country’s hydroelectric capabilities. There are product shortages; there is raging inflation that has annihilated salaries; and there is rampant violent crime.
Protests are on the rise and a key poll shows nearly 70 percent of Venezuelans now say Maduro must go this year.
The opposition, won control of the National Assembly in a December election propelled by voter anger, are now pushing for a recall referendum against him.
Venezuela is currently seeing sky-high inflation brought on by plummeting oil prices, which has resulted in a chronic shortage of goods, medicine and power — all of which is contributing to widespread political unrest.
