Goldman Sachs caught up in anti-Maduro protests

About two dozen protesters picketed outside the headquarters of Goldman Sachs in lower Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday over alleged transactions between the investment bank and the Venezuelan government.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters chanted “Prosecute Goldman Sachs” and “Shame on you Goldman Sachs”.

The investment bank is accused of propping up Nicolas Maduro through its alleged purchase of government bonds.

“The immorality and greed of the agreement between Goldman Sachs, done through intermediaries with the Central Bank of Venezuela controlled by Nicolas Maduro will only help Maduro increase his repression of the people,” said Eduardo Lugo, the protest leader.

In Venezuela itself, opposition protests continued their 60th day of protests against the Maduro government on Tuesday as a student march maintained the momentum of a movement calling for leftist president to hold elections and allow humanitarian aid into a nation struck by widespread hunger and shortages.

A pro-Maduro rally was also held in Caracas backing President Maduro and his controversial Constituent Assembly he has called for in the name of holding elections and giving power to the people.

Even though critics have described the constituent assembly as an attempt by the president to confuse voters expectant of regional elections, as well as override the opposition-led National Assembly, Maduro still has substantial support.

“For all of those who always doubt him, for those who are shocked by political audacity, today we can say Nicolas was right to call the Constituent Assembly, which is to say, to call on the power of the people,” said Elias Jaua, president of the Constituent Assembly.

The new assembly has galvanized Maduro’s core support in rural Venezuela and among the poor.