Violent clashes between pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces are fuelling widespread perceptions that president Nicolas Maduro’s government may be vulnerable to a coup, although no clear leaders have emerged from within the opposition or the military. The long-running crisis, made worse after oil prices started tumbling almost two years ago, took a dark turn on 13 May when Maduro granted himself expanded emergency decree powers. In a lengthy diatribe 17 May, he dismissed an opposi- tion campaign to conduct a presidential recall referendum and predicted the demise of the opposition-controlled national assembly.
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