Nicolas Maduro claims victory over ‘deranged’ Venezuelan coup bid
President slams ‘far right’ and Trump after fresh clashes on streets

Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro says he has thwarted an attempt to topple him by the “coup-mongering far right” and Donald Trump’s deranged imperialist “gang”.
Following a day of violence on the streets, Maduro accused opposition leader Juan Guaido and his political mentor Leopoldo Lopez of trying to ignite an armed confrontation that could be used as a pretext for a foreign military intervention.
Guaido declared himself interim president in January. Since then, the crisis-hit country has had two men claiming to be its leader.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Guaido has called on his supporters to take to the streets again today, after releasing a video yesterday morning in which, surrounded by men in military uniform, he said he had the support of “brave soldiers” in the nation’s capital.
“The National Armed Forces have taken the correct decision,” he said. “They are guaranteed to be on the right side of history.”
However, the BBC says most of the military stayed on the side of Maduro during yesterday’s clashes, in which live rounds were fired and armoured vehicles driven into protesters.
Health officials said 69 people were injured in the clashes, including two who had been hit by bullets.
As the violence unfolded, Guaido said on Twitter: “We are in a process that is unstoppable. We have the firm backing of our people and the world to achieve the restoration of our democracy.”
What comes next is less than certain. The New York Times says Guaido has “fallen short of the prize he sought: the toppling of President Nicolas Maduro”. In the longer term, though, says the BBC, while “Mr Maduro still occupies the presidential palace, his future isn't secure”.
Outside Venezuela, international governments lined up behind each side. Trump, who backs Guaido, said the US stood with the Venezuelan people and their freedom. Cuba and Bolivia, which support Maduro, condemned Guaido’s efforts as an attempted coup.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed for both sides to avoid violence.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
The Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
By Fergus Scholes Published
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worse
Under the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Sudoku hard: April 03, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published