Venezuela has been shaken since early April by a wave of demonstrations against socialist President Nicolás Maduro, which has resulted in violent acts that has left about 30 dead people in just three weeks. Here are the four keys to understand the situation.
-The Spark: The Supreme Court
On March 29th, the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) removed the immunity of legislators of the Parliament, which left them exposed to criminal trials.
This decision appeared as a sanction against the legislative power, the only one controlled by the opposition since the end of 2015.
-The objective: early elections
The opposition set a main objective: to follow the departure of Nicolás Maduro before the end of his term in December 2018.
-The cost: dead and prisoners
Almost all marches have led to clashes, robberies, tear gas and molotov cocktails between demonstrators and law enforcement, to which is added the violence exercised by the “collectives”, which are, according to the opposition, groups of civilians armed by the government.
Dead people have risen to 27, according to the prosecutor’s office (29 according to the head of state), 437 injured people and 1,289 detainees due to riots and looting.
-The future: negotiations or elections
Maduro invited the opposition to resume frozen dialogue, calling on Pope Francisco to “accompany” these discussions, despite the failure last year of mediation under the auspices of the Holy Church.