Venezuela Opposition Plans Plebiscite as Violence Mounts
- Symbolic vote comes as Maduro tries to rewrite constitution
- Analysts fear increase in violence over coming weeks
Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, speaks during a press conference in Caracas on June 22, 2017.
Photographer: Carlos Becerra/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Venezuela’s opposition alliance is planning to hold an unofficial plebiscite on July 16 to gauge support for a national unity government as months of violent protests spread into poorer neighborhoods of Caracas.
Voters will be asked if they support President Nicolas Maduro’s plan for a new assembly to change the constitution, what role the armed forces should play in restoring order and whether they would back a unity government, Julio Borges, president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, said Monday.