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Leopoldo Lopez: Venezuela's maverick opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez: Venezuela's maverick opposition leader
(1 day later)
Images of deadly clashes in Venezuela hit the front pages last week when anti-government protests ended in violence. There has been a wave of anti-government protests in Venezuela, culminating in a rally on 18 February during which opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, wanted on charges of inciting violence, handed himself in to police. The BBC's Irene Caselli looks at the man who has been accused of trying to topple the government.
Three people were shot dead on Wednesday and marches have been taking place daily since then.
Student groups, which have been at the forefront of the protests, have vowed not to leave the streets until President Nicolas Maduro resigns.
They say Venezuela's record inflation rate, shortages of staples such as milk and cornflour, and high levels of insecurity can only be solved by a change of government.
'I walk alone'
But students are not the only ones who have been taking to the streets.
Leopoldo Lopez, leader of the opposition Popular Will party, has been another key figure in this latest wave of protests.
A hardliner within Venezuela's opposition movement, Mr Lopez has called on Venezuelans to join the student marches.
The government has accused him of inciting violence and issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with the three deaths on Wednesday.
Mr Lopez disappeared from the public eye for a few days, but has released a defiant video message on social media, saying he will hand himself in to the authorities on Tuesday.
"I will be there to show my face. I have nothing to fear. I have not committed any crime. If there is any order to illegally arrest me, well, I will be there," he said on Sunday.
Mr Lopez said he would lead a march into downtown Caracas and turn himself in at the Ministry of Justice and Interior, one of the focal points of recent anti-government demonstrations.
The march is likely to raise tensions considerably as it has not been authorised by city officials and is likely to overlap with a pro-government demonstration scheduled for the same time.
Aware of the potential for clashes, Mr Lopez has asked his supporters not to accompany him all the way to the Ministry of Justice, located in a pro-government area of the capital, Caracas.
"I will walk alone. I won't put any Venezuelan lives at risk. Go Venezuela!" he wrote on Twitter.
Maverick
Considered a political maverick, the 42-year-old politician has long been a thorn in the side of the government.Considered a political maverick, the 42-year-old politician has long been a thorn in the side of the government.
Born into a well-off family with links to the business and oil sector, Mr Lopez was educated in the United States and has a master's degree from Harvard University.Born into a well-off family with links to the business and oil sector, Mr Lopez was educated in the United States and has a master's degree from Harvard University.
He came to prominence when he was elected mayor of Caracas's Chacao district, a position he held from 2000 to 2008.He came to prominence when he was elected mayor of Caracas's Chacao district, a position he held from 2000 to 2008.
While he was barred from running for re-election in the 2008 polls for allegedly misusing public funds, he did not retire from public life.While he was barred from running for re-election in the 2008 polls for allegedly misusing public funds, he did not retire from public life.
His supporters say the charges were politically motivated as he was neither convicted nor put on trial over the allegations.His supporters say the charges were politically motivated as he was neither convicted nor put on trial over the allegations.
But Mr Lopez has long been seen as a "problem" - not only by the government but also by some outside observers.But Mr Lopez has long been seen as a "problem" - not only by the government but also by some outside observers.
In a 2009 classified cable released by Wikileaks, the political counsellor of the United States embassy in Caracas, Robin D Meyer, wrote that Mr Lopez had become a "divisive figure within the opposition". In a 2009 classified cable published by Wikileaks, the political counsellor of the United States embassy in Caracas, Robin D Meyer, wrote that Mr Lopez had become a "divisive figure within the opposition".
"He is often described as arrogant, vindictive, and power-hungry - but party officials also concede his enduring popularity, charisma, and talent as an organiser," the US diplomat wrote."He is often described as arrogant, vindictive, and power-hungry - but party officials also concede his enduring popularity, charisma, and talent as an organiser," the US diplomat wrote.
Internal divisionsInternal divisions
Little seems to have changed since then, as the opposition coalition, made up of 30 often divided parties, continues to struggle to agree on a unified strategy.Little seems to have changed since then, as the opposition coalition, made up of 30 often divided parties, continues to struggle to agree on a unified strategy.
Led by Henrique Capriles, the coalition is trying to recover from its poor showing in December's local election, when it fell well short of its goal of polling more votes than the government nationwide.Led by Henrique Capriles, the coalition is trying to recover from its poor showing in December's local election, when it fell well short of its goal of polling more votes than the government nationwide.
With no more elections in sight in the near future, Mr Capriles has opted to seek dialogue with Mr Maduro, shaking hands with his bitter rival in public.With no more elections in sight in the near future, Mr Capriles has opted to seek dialogue with Mr Maduro, shaking hands with his bitter rival in public.
Mr Capriles has since tried to gather support among those who voted for the government, a strategy which has put him at loggerheads with Mr Lopez, who is advocating tougher action against the government. Mr Capriles has since tried to gather support among those who voted for the government, a strategy which has put him at loggerheads with Mr Lopez, who is advocating tougher action against the administration.
Using social media, Mr Lopez has founded a movement using the hashtag #lasalida, which in Spanish means both "the exit" and "the solution".Using social media, Mr Lopez has founded a movement using the hashtag #lasalida, which in Spanish means both "the exit" and "the solution".
'Perfect excuse''Perfect excuse'
Carlos Romero, a political scientist at the Central University of Venezuela who is close to the opposition, worries that "la salida" may be stirring up trouble. Carlos Romero, a political scientist at the Central University of Venezuela, who is close to the opposition, worries that "la salida" may be stirring up trouble.
"He is giving the government the perfect excuse to accuse the opposition of destabilising the country," Mr Romero argues."He is giving the government the perfect excuse to accuse the opposition of destabilising the country," Mr Romero argues.
The government has indeed been quick in reminding citizens of the part Mr Lopez played in past unrest.The government has indeed been quick in reminding citizens of the part Mr Lopez played in past unrest.
In 2002, parts of the opposition, backed by elite businessmen and some military leaders, briefly removed then President Hugo Chavez - Mr Maduro's late predecessor - from power.In 2002, parts of the opposition, backed by elite businessmen and some military leaders, briefly removed then President Hugo Chavez - Mr Maduro's late predecessor - from power.
The coup came after street protests, in which Mr Lopez took an active role, prompting the government to label him a "coup leader".The coup came after street protests, in which Mr Lopez took an active role, prompting the government to label him a "coup leader".
But a large sector of Venezuela's middle class identify with Mr Lopez and his strategy.But a large sector of Venezuela's middle class identify with Mr Lopez and his strategy.
"If Leopoldo [Lopez] is attacked by the government, the people will defend him," student leader Daniel Alvarez said during a recent march."If Leopoldo [Lopez] is attacked by the government, the people will defend him," student leader Daniel Alvarez said during a recent march.
David Smilde, a Caracas-based senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, says Mr Lopez is an appealing figure for people to rally around.David Smilde, a Caracas-based senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, says Mr Lopez is an appealing figure for people to rally around.
"He is visible, attractive and talks well," he says."He is visible, attractive and talks well," he says.
And Tuesday's march, at which he plans to hand himself in to the authorities, could well give him even more visibility. Tuesday's march and his dramatic arrest have given him even more visibility.
"If Mr Lopez is arrested in a heroic way, he will become the symbolic leader of the opposition," Mr Smilde argues. But even if anger at Mr Lopez's detention manages to unify Venezuela's middle class behind him, he will still be faced with the government's wide base of popular support.
But even if Mr Lopez manages to unify Venezuela's middle class behind him, he will still be faced with the government's wide base of popular support. A change in government, which has denounced Mr Lopez as a "murderer", remains unlikely as long as the protests do not spread beyond the middle class.
A shift in the government therefore remains unlikely as long as the protests do not spread beyond the middle class.