Venezuela’s Maduro meets opponents

Venezuela’s Maduro meets opponents

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has held a meeting with opposition mayors and governors, calling for them to join the government’s anti-poverty projects.

On Wednesday, Maduro invited his opponents including Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma and Valencia Mayor Miguel Cocchiola to the presidential palace in the capital.

“I have greeted you with sincere affection. I respect all your political positions,” said the Venezuelan president.

“In the spirit of Christmas, we can turn over a new page,” the 51-year-old former union activist added. “Our differences will remain, but I urge you to work.”

The president also reminded that the opponents enjoy a constitutional right to ask for a recall referendum half-way through his term if they could collect the almost four million signatures required.

“In 2016, you have the opportunity. If you want to get me out of the presidency, collect the signatures then,” he said.

In April 2014, Maduro won the Venezuelan presidential election with 50.7 percent of the vote against 49.1 percent for opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Caracas Mayor Ledezma said during the meeting, “We came here to talk about the most urgent needs of Venezuelans,” urging Maduro to concentrate on important issues including annual inflation of over 50 percent, scarcities of products from flour to milk, and service failures.

“Dialogue is not weakness, it doesn’t mean negating our principles or beliefs, it’s a symptom of political maturity, it strengthens democracy,” opposition governor Henri Falcon posted on Twitter.

In November, Venezuela’s National Assembly granted Maduro special powers to rule by decree to curb the soaring inflation and fight corruption.

Maduro has imposed a series of measures to force cuts in prices on goods such as household appliances and cars.

The price cuts have been well received by the middle class and proved popular with consumers, especially the poor.