Venezuelan protests

Antigovernment protests took place nationwide in Venezuela on Oct. 26, with hundreds of thousands of people in the streets, after the nation’s highest court declared invalid a petition to hold a recall election of President Nicolas Maduro. The court said that the petition, which garnered 1.8 million signatures, was “marred by fraud.” During the protests, one police officer was killed, at least 20 civilians were injured and more than 80 people were arrested.

Venezuela’s parliament, controlled by opposition parties, voted to open a trial against President Maduro on charges that he violated the constitution. However, shortly after the opposition parties won the majority of seats, the courts declared the parliament to be illegitimate, meaning that it may not have any governmental authority.

On Oct. 28, a general strike effectively shut down most public services for the day.

Venezuela is currently suffering from shortages of food and electricity.