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News > Latin America

Opposition 'Strike' Call a Failure, Venezuelan President Says

  • Government supporters rally against the opposition-called

    Government supporters rally against the opposition-called "general strike" in Portuguesa state, Oct. 28, 2016. | Photo: teleSUR

Published 28 October 2016
Opinion

Despite the threats of worker strikes, it was business as usual for most of the country's services and operations.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the opposition call for a general strike to bring down his government has been a "failure" after most business and services remained open Friday.

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"The opposition strike is a failure," Maduro said. "Peace and work have prevailed in Venezuela!"

The MUD coalition had announced a general strike as a follow-up to its "Takeover Venezuela" demonstrations on Oct. 26, which drew large numbers in Caracas. The actions were called in response to the National Electoral Council's (CNE) temporary suspension of the signature collection for the second stage of a possible presidential recall referendum, citing allegations of fraud during the initial stage of the process.

The opposition demonstrations in other parts of the country Wednesday turned violent, with one police officer killed in the border state of Tachira and another officer killed in the state of Merida.

Opposition legislators also held an extraordinary session the National Assembly — which is controlled by Maduro's opponents — to begin "impeachment" proceedings against the Venezuelan President, whom they also accused of staging a "coup" and "abandoning his post."

Government supporters also turned out in the tens of thousands in the Venezuelan capital and across the country, denouncing what they consider to be opposition-led maneuvers towards a coup.

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"Did the transport service stop? No! 100 percent of the public service is operational," Maduro told supporters at a rally, listing the sectors and services that operated normally despite the opposition call.

"The only universities that closed were the private universities, where tuition fees are very high" said the Venezuelan leader, who confirmed that 80 percent of the country's universities remained open.

Opposition leaders accuse Maduro and the governing Socialist Party of stalling the recall referendum process, however, government supporters and officials insist that the opposition began the process four months late, while also committing fraud in the initial collection of signatures, which included almost 11,000 signatures from deceased Venezuelans.

Talks between the government and opposition legislators are scheduled for Sunday, though there is public discord among the opposition on holding talks with the government.

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