Many Venezuelans blame the government for driving the country into the current economic and social ditch. Now their discontent with the Venezuelan leader's policy appears to have hit a tipping point. Citizens of Venezuela have long put up with severe shortages of basic goods and water as well as the failing system of rationing and controls. Yet now it seems the time has come for some decisive action.

Last week on Wednesday, May 11, the Venezuelan capital of Caracas saw mass street protests against the present socialist government of Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's opposition groups involving millions of protesters are calling for a referendum to oust the president and also bring charges against the country's leader.

Photo: clashes between anti-Maduro demonstrators and the police in Caracas, Venezuela

Nicolas Maduro took office in April 2013, after the death of his charismatic predecessor Hugo Chavez. Maduro tried to stick to the socialist path as socialism has been the state-level ideology promulgated for years and implemented in a variety ways in Venezuela. However, the influence of Maduro on Venezuelans turned out to be rather weak as confirmed by a recent confidence poll, which showed that only 20% of the country's citizens support their leader. That is, four out of five respondents are pessimistic about the current Venezuelan administration.

At present, Maduro is trying to hold on to his presidential chair at any cost. After 1.8 million people signed a petition seeking a referendum to remove Maduro from power, the politician declared a 60-day state of emergency in an attempt to prevent the nationwide referendum from happening, or at least postpone it.

Photo: Venezuelans during an anti-government demonstration in Caracas

Maduro tends to blame the US and its Western allies for the country's present-day hardships. When declaring an emergency decree on May 13, the president said this decision was made in order to combat what he called “foreign aggression" destabilizing the domestic economy. Maduro's incompetent rule is causing a serious halt in operation of the country's industrial companies, Venezuelan factory owners say. Last week, the largest food and beverage supplier in Venezuela, the Polar Group, announced that it stopped the production of beer. The management of the company said the decision to discontinue beer production was due to government mismanagement, citing a severe lack of currency reserves to import barley.

Photo: anti-regime demonstration in the capital of Venezuela on May 11

Venezuela has been teetering on the edge of a deep recession for some time now. The political and social situation within the country has now become extremely fragile on the back of plunging oil prices. However, empty store shelves, a shortage of basic commodities, and near-total poverty have already been a part of the life of Venezuelans for years.

Photo: An elderly Venezuelan demands a referendum, Caracas.

On May 15, Nicolas Maduro threatened that the government would seize idle factories, sending their owners to jail. The president is outraged over an almost complete halt of production in some enterprises.

Photo: Venezuelan police officers protect themselves with shields during clashes with protesters on May 11 in Caracas.

Apart from the army, Venezuela's security forces now include organized civilian groups trying to keep public order and block opposition protesters in the streets of Caracas.

Photo: Venezuelans shout anti-government slogans during a protest demonstration on May 11 in Caracas.