CARACAS (Reuters) – Opposition and government supporters flooded Venezuelan streets in rival May Day marches yesterday as a continuing dispute over the results of last month’s presidential vote kept political tensions high in the OPEC nation.
On Tuesday, opposition deputies were beaten in a fracas in Congress resulting from their refusal to recognise the presidency of Nicolas Maduro, who narrowly won the April 14 election triggered by the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez.
Government officials, meanwhile, have threatened to jail opposition leader Henrique Capriles for allegedly orchestrating violent demonstrations that killed nine people after the vote. Most foreign governments, with the exception of the United States, have recognized the election results.
The volatile situation underscores the challenges of the “Chavismo” movement to maintain Hugo Chavez’s self-styled revolution without his messianic but micro-managing leadership.
“We’re not afraid of the government, even if they threaten, beat, and insult us – we’re going to continue demonstrating like we are today,” said Graciela Perez, 61, a housewife, marching through the affluent east side of the capital of Caracas. “We only want the truth to be known – that they stole the elections.”
A renewal of the post-vote violence appeared unlikely because the rival marches in Caracas, involving tens of thousands of people on each side, will not cross paths. Similar marches took place elsewhere in the country.
Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver, will likely use the labour day celebration to tout the working-class roots that helped make him Chavez’s chosen successor.
“We’re here in the streets because this is a workers’ government that represents the people,” said Luis Graterol, an airport worker at a pro-government march in central Caracas.
Vendors sold pictures of the late Chavez to marchers wearing signature-red shirts, some of which were adorned with Maduro’s face. One sign read “Capriles: fascist assassin.”
