Maduro Loses Grip on Venezuela’s Poor, a Vital Source of His Power

“Something new is happening in the barrios,” said Father Alfredo Infante, a Jesuit priest in La Vega. “They feel connected to Guaidó in a way they haven’t with other opposition leaders. He comes from a poor background, and looks like he belongs in the barrio.” Across barrios, fading murals celebrating former leader Hugo Chávez compete with fresh graffiti demanding “Fuera Maduro,” or Maduro Out. Many blame government brutality for the shift, a violent crackdown that pits the government against the very people who put it in power. More…