An estimated two thousand opponents of President Nicolas Maduro have marched in the Venezuela capital to demand authorities to set a date for overdue regional elections.<br /><br /> It was the first demonstration of 2017 but turnout was not massive, perhaps reflecting the frustration over last year’s failure to bring about a referendum to recall the president.<br /><br /> The opposition Democratic Unity coalition is demanding dates for regional elections that are supposed to happen this year, and also urging Maduro to hold a new presidential ballot.<br /><br /> “We are protesting because we want to have elections, so that we can vote and decide the future of the country at the ballot box,” said Dr.Manuel Olivares. <br /><br /> Journalist Maria Hernandez said protesters are tired of not having food:<br /><br /> “We are tired of not being safe, of not being able to let our children go out into the streets, of having an increasingly diminished quality of life with a dictatorial regime that does not respect our rights.”<br /><br /> With many of Venezuela’s 30 million people skipping meals, unable to pay soaring prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce subsidized products, Maduro, who won a 2013 election to succeed Chavez, has become deeply unpopular.<br /><br /> Elsewhere in Caracas, red shirted government supporters were also marching. They accuse the opposition of seeking a coup with US backing. Maduro’s six-year term is not sue to end until 2019.<br />
