Venezuela Guaido calls for the "greatest march of history" in the uprising effort

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelans are expected to take to the streets on Wednesday, as opposition leader Juan Guaido promised to become the "biggest march" in the country's history, one day after he called on the military to overthrow the country. President Nicolas Maduro.

In his most daring effort so far to gain support from the armed forces, Guaido appeared early Tuesday morning in front of an air base in Caracas with dozens of members of the National Guard. This triggered a day of violent protests, leaving more than 100 wounded but without any concrete sign of defection by the leaders of the armed forces.

"We know that Maduro has neither the support nor the respect of the armed forces," Guaido said in a video message posted on his social media Tuesday night. "We have seen that the challenge gives results. We should maintain the pressure. "

The question of whether attending the event meets these noble hopes will be a key test for Guaido, while some supporters become frustrated to see Maduro remain in office more than three months after Guaido – who heads the National Assembly controlled by the opposition – invoked the constitution to badume an interim presidency, arguing that the re-election of Maduro in May 2018 was illegitimate.

While Guaido gained support from the United States and most Western countries, the armed forces relied on Maduro, which retains support from allies such as Russia, China and Cuba. This prevented Guaido from temporarily baduming the daily functions of the government – which he said would be a prelude to the convening of new elections.

The standard of living of Venezuelans has further declined during the first months of the year, a series of power outages and water shortages adding to the hyperinflation and the chronic food and drug shortages that have driven millions of people to emigrate.

"I hope it will be the last time we have to go down the street," said Claudia Riveros, a 36-year-old baker with a Venezuelan flag at Tuesday's protest. "I want to see the end of this usurping government."

Maduro, a socialist who calls Guaido an American puppet trying to orchestrate a coup against him, also called his supporters to the demonstration on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow, the first of May, we will have a great march of the working clbad with millions of people," Maduro said in a televised speech Tuesday night. "We have been faced with different types of aggression and attempted coups ever seen in our history."

Guaido's International Day of Workers for a Great March comes as it appeals to trade union leaders and public service workers, the traditional support base of Maduro and his predecessor and mentor, the late President Hugo Chavez.

"If he gets some degree of involvement from the labor movements, that could be an extra feather," said Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director of the Eurasia group in Washington, adding that the march would be "an important event". barometer of his support and his ability to mobilize. "