News / Venezuela

Venezuela declares 60-day state of emergency

Saturday, 14 May 2016 6:05 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 14 May 2016 6:05 AM ]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ©AFP

Venezuela’s president has declared a 60-day state of emergency to counter, what he calls, a domestic and US push to topple his administration amid the country’s economic woes.

Nicolas Maduro signed off on the measure and extended a state of economic emergency on Friday as a means of fending off “threats” from within and outside the country, without providing further details.

“Washington is activating measures at the request of Venezuela's fascist right, who are emboldened by the coup in Brazil,” Maduro said, referring to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s suspension from power on the back of a senate vote in favor of her impeachment trial.

The opposition, however, criticized the announcement as unconstitutional.

“Today, Maduro has again violated the constitution,” said opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa. “Why? Because he is scared of being recalled.”

The 53-year-old has been bequeathed a 17-year-old “socialist revolution” by his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez, likewise a stiff adversary of the US.

Opponents to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro clash with riot police during a demonstration in the capital Caracas on May 11, 2016. ©AFP

Since 2014, the country has been grappling with protests against Maduro, with the opposition vigorously pushing for a recall election.

His critics blame him for the country’s deep recession, triple-digit inflation, and dire shortages of basic commodities.

They have been calling for his removal more vociferously since last December, when the opposition gained control of the National Assembly in legislative elections.

The Maduro government has denounced the opposition’s plans as a US-backed attempt to bring about a coup d’état in the oil-rich country that is home to 29 million people.

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