Venezuela's Growing Protests Are Not Yet a Danger to the Government

Protests in Venezuela have been gaining strength, but it is doubtful whether the students and opposition groups behind the unrest have a support base broad enough to unseat the government at this time. Demonstrations Feb. 12 left three dead, dozens injured and dozens more arrested. The government also ordered the arrest of Leopoldo Lopez, the current opposition leader and former mayor of Chacao (a subdivision within the capital), according to El Universal. The protests are ostensibly intended to free four students who were arrested Feb. 6, but in reality they reflect widespread and growing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the economically turbulent country.