Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Tuesday formally launched moves to rewrite the constitution, defying opponents who accuse him of clinging to power in a political crisis that has sparked deadly unrest. At an open air rally before thousands of supporters in red t-shirts, Maduro signed a document formally establishing the terms for electing members of a "constituent assembly" that will be tasked with drafting a new constitution.
His backers waved red, yellow and blue national flags in defiance of angry opposition protests after the death toll from weeks of clashes reached 53. Violence appeared to intensify in recent days with the opposition marching daily to demand early elections. A man was doused in fuel and set alight on Sunday at a demo. Three people were shot dead late Monday in riots in the western state of Barinas. The government and opposition accuse each other of sending armed groups to sow violence during demonstrations. Maduro has accused the opposition of "terrorism," and is resisting their calls for a vote on removing him from power. The opposition blames him for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food and medicine.
It says he plans to pack the "constituent assembly" with his supporters. Maduro said 176 of the assembly's members will be drawn from certain civil groups, which the opposition say are traditionally loyal to him and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez. In a move set to further inflame the opposition, Maduro said the constitutional body would sit in the chamber of the National Assembly legislature - the only state institution nominally controlled by his opponents. Electoral specialist analyst Eugenio Martinez said on Twitter the constitutional assembly looked likely to be set up via "a made-to-measure election, a process designed to make the Chavista vote worth more than the opposition one."
A total of 53 people have been killed during demonstrations, many of them shot, public prosecutors said on Tuesday. Looting has broken out in various cities. A man was set alight on Sunday by a crowd who accused him of thieving. Maduro said he was targeted for being a government supporter. Fresh riots broke out on Monday evening in the capital and Barinas.
"Venezuelans awake today in mourning for those murdered in our beloved Barinas. Such viciousness against our people!" opposition leader Henrique Capriles wrote on Twitter. Opposition lawmakers called a session for Tuesday to discuss the violence. Elected in 2013, Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to remove him since January 2016.