Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Thousands of Chavistas marched this Saturday in Caracas to reiterate their support for President Nicolás Maduro, while a smaller group of opponents gathered to respond to the call of leader Juan Guaidó, who advocated unity and the renewal of leadership.
The demonstrations, which did not cross, were held on the occasion of Youth Day, a date that is traditionally celebrated with mobilizations from both political sectors.
To the sound of drums and salsa, thousands of adolescent, young and adult Chavistas from all over Venezuela traveled about 14 kilometers from Caracas.
The Chavistas took several of the streets in eastern Caracas, an area considered a bastion of the opposition, to reach the Parliament building in the center of the city, where Maduro is expected to participate.
“We are already celebrating 208 years of the Battle of Victory, which shows that this combative youth, this brave youth, that we follow for our dreams, that we continue fighting for the homeland we want,” the coordinator of the Movement told AFP. National Reenactors, María Amatima, 26 years old.
Commanded by different representatives of the youth of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) -including Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the president-, they displayed banners with slogans or photos of the president.
“Chávez sets the tone, Maduro has (the) steering wheel,” one of the banners with photographs of the late president (1999-2013), Maduro and Jesus Christ could read.
Meanwhile, some 600 opponents gathered on an avenue parallel to one of the streets through which the Chavista march took place. From a small stage and after a power cut that the opposition denounced as “sabotage” of his concentration, Guaidó advocated strengthening the opposition “unity” and the renewal of leadership.
“Unity must be strengthened, leadership must be renewed, all sectors must be incorporated, we must legitimize from the base, a consultation with our people, not only who will be the future candidates, who must also be unique from the leadership,” Guaidó said.
The opponent promised to reactivate the street demonstrations that shook the country in previous years such as 2019 or 2017. “We are going to return (…) to the place where freedoms are exercised, which are the streets of Venezuela,” he said.
