Thousands rally in Venezuela in support of new parliament (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Thousands have taken to the streets of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to show their support for the newly elected National Assembly. The rally drew both opponents and loyalists of the country headed by President Nicolas Maduro.
People gathered near La Hoyada metro station in the city center, sending the #ElCambioComienzaHoy (Change Starts Today) hashtag to the top global trending Twitter topics. The place was heavily guarded by police since early morning.
On Monday, Maduro assured demonstrators "can go out, sing their songs and chant their slogans with enough space so that access to the National Assembly is not obstructed." Security forces were ordered to ensure that the rally went ahead peacefully.
READ MORE: Opposition wins majority in Venezuela parliamentary elections
In December the opposition won Venezuela’s parliamentary elections for the first time in 17 years, taking control of the legislature from the governing socialists. The Democratic Unity Roundtable coalition got 99 seats in the country’s parliament, while the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, founded by the late President Hugo Chavez, won 46 seats.
The new parliament which starts its work on Tuesday will be active for five years. Maduro hopes to get the assembly to support a new economic emergency plan for the crisis-hit country. With the world's biggest known oil reserves, Venezuela has been suffering from a fall in the price of the crude, which has led to a deep recession.
Ciudadanos se congregan en la estación La Hoyada para acompañar a los diputados hasta sede de la AN pic.twitter.com/RlykCZDKGt
— HackedVenezuela (@HackedVenezuela) January 5, 2016@joseluispirelar Así está la hoyada en este momento. #VamosPaLaAsamblea#PaLanteYSinMiedopic.twitter.com/fURdvGy2ZA
— Mauricio Castillo (@mauriciojose78) January 5, 2016A pesar de que cerraron las 4 est. mas cerca a La Hoyada no para de llegar gente " COMO SEA"
#ElCambioComienzaHoypic.twitter.com/akc1CJlERV
— José Meneses (@MecoxMusic) January 5, 2016La Hoyada #5Epic.twitter.com/u1bWRg3Lp4
— El Jurungador® (@Jurungador) January 5, 2016En la Hoyada .. Buena vibraaaaaa! 9:59 am. pic.twitter.com/hbwOVojWJJ
— MESTIZA que baila (@danielatugues) January 5, 2016Así están inmediaciones de la estación de La Hoyada, del Metro de Caracas. pic.twitter.com/NVCCycGhYM
— RCTV.net (@RCTVenlinea) January 5, 2016"@AnonymusZulia
Ciudadanos se congregan en la estación La Hoyada para acompañar a los diputados hasta sede de la AN pic.twitter.com/JFrfpw1iP5
— Anonymous Barricada™ (@reiaresnd) January 5, 2016#5Ene | La Hoyada en este momento | @myteks (09:58 am) pic.twitter.com/ZfKLxrNSwI
— Reporte Pto Cabello (@ReportePC) January 5, 2016Esq el Chorro en La Hoyada, Caracas #ElCambioComienzaHoy#112PaLaAsambleaVamospic.twitter.com/moA8TmggeP
— Jesus Laya (@JesusLayaT) January 5, 2016Llegada de @RichardBlancoOf a La Hoyada #5E 9:54 am pic.twitter.com/5MA4vsjelC
— Yohana Marra (@Yohanamarra) January 5, 2016La hoyada en este momento @metro_caracas
@gustavopierralpic.twitter.com/PtS88DffGj
— Myteks Media Labs (@myteks) January 5, 2016#5E siguen llegando opositores a la Hoyada, dicen llegaran hasta la AN pese a bloqueos de la GNB #360mundopic.twitter.com/sZ7YQPi3tW
— Anonymous Barricada™ (@reiaresnd) January 5, 2016La Hoyada hace unos minutos pic.twitter.com/pU3oMC0w1o
— Adolfo Salge (@AdolfoSalge) January 5, 2016#5E 9:19 inmediaciones estación del metro La Hoyada. pic.twitter.com/3Pu2dCs96a
— Luis A. Borrero (@LABC7) January 5, 2016Estamos en el edifico el chorro de la hoyada y hay un piquete de la PNB q no permite seguir hasta la AN pic.twitter.com/uSNUrEOKRy
— HUMBERTO PALADINO (@HEGP) January 5, 2016
