# 2feb | Venezuela divided: massive marches against and in favor of Nicolás Maduro 20 years after the inauguration of Hugo Chávez

The start of the day of protests, which takes place all over the country, was stirred by a video broadcast on social networks in which an air force general of the armed forces ignored Maduro, thus becoming the highest ranking officer in the country. the active army that he has recognized. in Guaidó.

"Usurper, leave now" and "Dictator", "The armed force hears the people", was read on banners worn by the opposition in Caracas, are concentrated in front of the headquarters of the European Union (EU), in the Mercedes (east). "Viva Guaidó"They shouted when the opponent arrived at the stage.

Guaidó, the leader of the opposition-majority parliament who took the oath on January 23, called for the march to support the ultimatum given to Maduro (France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal and the Netherlands). – accepting "free elections" or otherwise, they will recognize Guaidó.

"I'm leaving to regain freedom and defeat this tyranny, this narco-dictatorship," AFP Beatriz Martinez, a 75-year-old psychologist, told AFP. "We are starving," said Delia Rivas, 52.

Another multitude of oficialistas is concentrated in the avenue Bolivar, center of the capital. Zaida, who calls himself "fundamentally revolutionary," told AFP: "I do not want these accursed Americans to keep the wealth of Venezuela," he said.

"Fuck you, bading Yanks", was read on a banner of concentration, where Maduro was expected, who on Twitter said that "the people" "in full force to follow the path" drawn by the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez (1999-2013).

On Thursday, the European Parliament recognized Guaidó, putting pressure on the EU. But Maduro rejected the ultimatum – which expires Sunday – regretting that the EU is "in the lineup" of the Donald Trump government.

The demonstrations were taking place under high tension: last week's riots killed 40 people and 850 more were arrested, according to the UN, and in 2014 and 2017, two waves of demonstrations were settled and at least 200 dead.

The country's debacle marks the 20th anniversary of the revolution: hyperinflation, shortage of food and medicine, and oil PDVSA, failing that and with a production in free fall, strangled by US sanctions, which does not exclude a action medinas military or additional.