Alleging that the Maduro administration is illegitimate, opposition leader Juan Guaido, also head of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president during an anti-government rally on Jan. 23.
Around 1 million Maduro's supporters from across the country gathered in the capital city. They said that they wanted to call for peace and freedom, and fight against violence and external interference.
"We don't want interference from the US and the European Union. We want peace, and we come here to say that we want peace, we want freedom, and Venezuela doesn't want to be colony of any country," said a supporter of Maduro.
"We Venezuelans are happy to gather here to show our support to Nicolas Maduro. We will not sell or give away our property, as these property belong to all the Venezuelans," said another supporter of Maduro.
Addressing the supporters, Maduro called for bringing forward National Assembly elections, which had been scheduled for 2020, to this year. He said that Constituent Assembly President Diosdado Cabello would be responsible for the issue, noting that he is also considering recovering normal functions of the National Assembly including the legislative power.
The current National Assembly was elected in 2015. After that, Venezuela's Supreme Court declared the National Assembly illegal, as three of its opposition members refused to cooperate in investigation about their suspected frauds in elections.
Tens of thousands of anti-Maduro protesters also held a rally in Caracas on the same day. Some of them said the country's economic situation brought them there.
"I have never marched before, never in my life, but what makes me want to today is my son. He is young, like Guaido. I see the two as similar. We have experienced difficulties and hardships. My only daughter had to leave the country," said a protester.
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