MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The opposition called on Venezuelan citizens to boycott their work and barricade the streets in protest of Maduro's bid to convene a National Constituent Assembly and amend the country's constitution.
"The call we've made for the coming days will require each of you to ask yourselves what role you have to play in Venezuela's rescue," Vice President of the Venezuelan National Assembly and opposition member Freddy Guevara said as quoted by CNN.
Maduro announced his decision to call the National Constituent Assembly in May. The opposition regarded the president's decision as an attempted coup, which resulted in an escalation of already fraught tensions.
Venezuela has been in the grip of sweeping anti-Maduro street protests since late March, when the government attempted to deprive Congress of its legislative functions in favor of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, the country's highest court of law. Though the action was rapidly reversed, the civil unrest continued to gain momentum, leading to over 100 people killed and hundreds arrested so far.