News Middle East Documentaries Shows Investigations Opinion In Pictures More Live NEWS/JUAN GUAIDO Venezuelans rally in rival protests as crisis intensifies Massive protests expected in Venezuela a day after opposition’s Guaido called for uprising as Maduro remained defiant. by Elizabeth Melimopoulos

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has called for massive protests [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

Hundreds of opposition and pro-government protesters are rallying in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after opposition leader Juan Guaido called for the military to oust President Maduro.

“Across all of Venezuela, we will be in the streets,” Guaido tweeted early on Wednesday. The US-backed self-declared leader also repeated his call for the armed forces to join “Operation Freedom” to overthrow Maduro.

The socialist leader remained defiant, however, calling his supporters to the streets.

“Tomorrow, the first of May, we will have a large, millions-strong march of the working class,” Maduro said in a Tuesday night television address. “We have been confronting different types of aggression and attempted coups never before seen in our history.”

He added on Twitter, “Venezuela is a land of peace and independence.”

Guaido’s choice of International Workers’ Day for the major protest came as he tried to win the support of union leaders, a traditional base that have always shown support for Maduro and his socialist party.

The protest participation will provide a test for Guaido’s plan to overthrow Maduro, a day after the opposition leader called for a “military uprising” in his strongest move since invoking the Constitution to declare himself interim president on January 23.

“This is the time to go out and protest,” Rachid Yasbek, an opposition leader told Al Jazeera.

“Somehow there has been some fragmentation within the government structure, it would be a mistake to stop,” he added.

Maduro has accused the United States and Guaido of staging a “coup”. On Tuesday night, the socialist president declared victory over the uprising, saying the opposition’s move will not go unpunished.

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Although Guaido has earned the backing of the US and dozens of other Western countries, Maduro holds the support of the armed forces and Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and Cuba.

Some analysts believe the real negotiations are taking place abroad.

“All indicates that negotiations are taking place at the international level,” Carlos Pina, a political analyst in Venezuela told Al Jazeera.

“So, what we expect today are protests on both sides, but what will really define the current situation will be the discussions among the elites of the country, and the negotiations that are taking place outside Venezuela,” he added.

Venezuelans rally as opposition leader Guaido calls for uprising (2:29)

Living standards

Meanwhile, Venezuela‘s living standards have declined this year with a series of blackouts and water shortages adding stress to an already difficult situation for many facing hyperinflation and food and medicine shortages.

“I am going out because I’m convinced this is the right path, half of my life I have lived it under the Chavismo,” Antonia Lapadom told Al Jazeera.

“But from some time now, all we do is survive, from some time now, we are staying more alone, from some time now, I see a decrease in health quality, these all are good reasons to go out,” she added.

Government supporters say they are also ready to support the revolution, arguing that the current situation is a consequence of foreign intervention.

“I am advocating for the liberty of my country, [external forces] can’t run over it and keep threatening it. We are a free country with free lands, free men, and we rather stand than to be in our knees,” Julio Cesar Acevedo, 66, said.

But protesters also admit there is fear.

“We are afraid, yes, but I think that every time there is an opportunity for a change, where you can help, we have to take it, because we don’t know when will it come again,” Lapadom said.

The United Nations says a quarter of Venezuela’s 30 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, and that 3.7 million are malnourished.

And while not all are convinced the opposition offers the best solutions, many are eager to see change.

“I think this is the time to support the only people, that seems to be eager to make a change, I don’t see anyone else trying,” Manuel, a Venezuelan citizen, told Al Jazeera.

“We need to go out, we can’t keep risking Venezuela, this country needs to be rescued,” he said.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS