Venezuelan Opposition Launches Campaign to Oust Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela's right-wing opposition launched a campaign Tuesday to remove socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power this year. The plan includes street protests for his immediate resignation, along with plans to hold a presidential recall referendum and to change the constitution so that there are immediate elections.

“We call on the entire Venezuelan people in order to force Maduro to resign as the President of the country,” the Executive Secretary of the Democratic Unity coalition Jesus Torrealba told reporters.

One of the mechanism sought by the opposition coalition is a constitutional amendment to cut Maduro's term short and hold new presidential elections. That could be requested either by the National Assembly or 2.9 million voters, paving the way for a recall referendum.

However, others have noted that under Article 24 of the Venezuelan constitution, any modifications to the constitution cannot be made retroactively.

The Democratic Unity coalition, known as the MUD, has long struggled to cultivate the disparate interests of a variety of political parties, with a wide range of priorities presenting challenges to policymaking.

However, Torrealba called on Venezuelans to take to the streets this coming Saturday to demand Maduro’s resignation.

In Caracas, Torrealba said, the rally will gather at Francisco de Miranda Avenue, while adding that they would notify of the other locations across the country in the following days.

"They want to organize street rallies to generate violence and bring about a coup, supported by U.S. imperialism," the Socialist Party's powerful no. 2, former National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello said this week.

The opposition also announced plans that would weaken the powers of the Supreme Court to determine what is constitutional.