Return of firebrand opposition leader Lopez energizes Venezuelan protests

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS APRIL 30, 2019 / 10:23 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Return of firebrand opposition leader Lopez energizes Venezuelan protests

Angus Berwick, Vivian Sequera
4 MIN READ

CARACAS (Reuters) - When Felix Garcia woke up on Tuesday he was fired up by surprising news - Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, under house arrest for the past two years, had appeared in public.

Lopez’s appearance alongside National Assembly leader Juan Guaido was enough to convince the 30-year-old computer programmer to join tens of thousands of Venezuelans protesting against President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday.

“Our spirits have been low, but when we saw Leopoldo Lopez out on Caracas’ streets, it was a signal to again return to the fight,” Garcia said, a gas mask hanging from his neck and chunks of concrete stuffed in the pockets of his hoodie.

Lopez, 48, oversaw Guaido’s rise from student leader and remains a key figure in their Popular Will party.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-lopez/return-of-firebrand-opposition-leader-lopez-energizes-venezuelan-protests-idUSKCN1S7324

[Ghost Dog]

1. Well, that was premature. Lpez, very wealthy owner

of Venezuela's top supermarket and food import and distribution corporation, was under house arrest at his luxury home, found guilty by the court of inciting murderous violence in earlier political demonstrations against Moreno's government.