Chavistas Protest Ahead of Right-Wing 'Taking of Caracas' Rally

A large Venezuelan flag flies over the crowd at Tuesday's rally. | Photo: teleSUR

Government supporters flooded Caracas' Plaza Caracas Tuesday to show support for President Nicolas Maduro, who also attended and spoke to the crowd.

The demonstration comes only two days ahead of a march scheduled by the opposition, termed by anti-government leaders as "the taking of Caracas." The government says the opposition is planning violence.

"Do they want peace?" Maduro bellowed to the crowd at Tuesday's rally. "Do they want democracy? We will have democracy, but if they try to come at me with a coup, with ambushes and violence, the revolution will respond."

Government leaders have ramped up efforts in recent weeks to show strength and unity ahead of the opposition's march. Tuesday's rally followed two other demonstrations last week and a march on Saturday. Another demonstration is scheduled for Wednesday. Government supporters will also hold a competing rally on Thursday.

Maduro has called on his supporters to maintain the intensity in the streets to counteract the opposition's attempt to initiate a recall referendum against him.

"We have to be clear about the will of the people in their unbreakable struggle, the popular organization, to struggle," he said.

On Tuesday Maduro announced the implementation of a "peace plan" for Caracas, termed "beautiful and socialist Caracas" that will run through the end of the year.

As part of the plan, 50 sports fields for young people will be either built or revamped, 115 schools will be inaugurated, and the "Barrio Adentro" mission will be expanded to reach 100 percent of Caracas residents. Barrio Adentro provides free medical check-ups and limited medical care to Venezuelans.

Maduro also announced other plans for funding to refurbish hospitals and a plan to replace elevators in old buildings. He also plans to expand funding of the Barrio Nuevo Barrio Tricolor program, which paints poor community's ranch homes bright colors.

"We're going to make Caracas beautiful for the 25 and 31 of December," he said.

The increased political activity coincides with the opposition's attempts to oust Maduro via a presidential recall referendum. Opposition leaders have said this Thursday's demonstration aims to pressure the electoral board to set the dates for the next stage of the recall process, which is the collection of 20 percent of voter signatures.

The date for any recall referendum is crucial. If it is held before January 10 and Maduro loses, new elections would be called. If held after January 10, the country's vice president would become president.

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