Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan protesters flooded the streets of Caracas on Thursday to put pressure on the socialist government of President Nicolás Maduro to allow a recall referendum to remove him. The protest comes as the South American country endures its most severe economic and social crisis in living memory. Two-time presidential candidate and opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who spearheaded the rally, hailed the march as “the largest mobilisation in the history of Venezuela. Venezuelans want to decide their future. Let the world see how afraid Maduro is of the people in the streets, and of the recall vote.”
Despite last-ditch efforts by the government to quash the rally — including the arrest of opposition leaders, deportation of journalists and accusations that the opposition was fomenting plans for a coup — the turnout was bigger than anything seen two years ago when mass protests rocked the country, killing dozens in opposing camps. It was even considered by some observers as the largest rally against the socialist revolution, launched by the late Hugo Chávez, in more than a decade. Anti-government protesters dressed in white chanted “this government will fall”, and held placards reading “you are useless, resign”.