Venezuela crisis – Is Nicolas Maduro still president, was there a coup against him, and who is his opposition leader?

VENEZUELA is in the grip of a political catastrophe - with an interim president attempting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

Here is what you need to know about the Venezuelan leader.

Who is Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro?

Nicolas Maduro took power as president in 2013.

He was born on November 23, 1962 and is married to Cilia Flores, a lawyer and politician who replaced Maduro as President of the National Assembly in August 2006, when he resigned to become Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Hugo Chavez.

He has one son from a previous marriage and three step-children from his wife's first marriage.

The 55-year-old is a former bus driver and trade union leader.

Is Maduro still president of Venezuela?

Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim president and has called for an official election, however Maduro is still technically the president.

The interim president has claimed Maduro won't go out without a fight and prolonged protests are needed to push him from the presidential seat.

Risa Grais-Targow, the Latin America Director of the Eurasia Group, wrote: “there are other conditions necessary for political transition that today do not appear to be present, namely a recognition by senior elements of the military that there is no way to sustain Maduro’s regime or break in the chain of command that forces their hand.”

In April, 2019, Nicolas Maduro called for his supporters to take to the streets with "nerves of steel" after Guaido called for a military uprising.

Guaido earlier made his call to arms surrounded by dozens of troops outside an air force base in the capital Caracas.

In a dawn address he declared the "beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom" had begun.

He was pictured near an air force in Caracas flanked by a group of men in uniform - many wearing blue ribbons on their sleeves.

Government security forces fired tear gas at Guaido, his supporters and around 70 armed men in military uniform.

Video footage showed people fleeing as the sound of bullets being fired rang through the air.

So far, the military, and in particular the higher ranks, have repeatedly pledged their loyalty to President Maduro.

He defiantly tweeted: "Nerves of steel. I call for maximum popular mobilization to assure the victory of peace. We will win!"

Maduro said he had spoken with military leaders and they had shown him "their total loyalty".

But in a bid to gain armed forces support, the opposition has developed an amnesty proposal that would grant amnesty to soldiers who willingly break ranks with the current government.

What has he said about civil war?

Maduro has said he cannot rule out the possibility of civil war, as pressure of him standing down increases.

In the interview with Spanish television programme Salvados, Maduro was asked if the crisis in Venezuela could result in civil war.

He said: "Today no-one could answer that question with certainty.

"Everything depends on the level of madness and aggressiveness of the northern empire (the US) and its Western allies.

"We ask that nobody intervenes in our internal affairs... and we prepare ourselves to defend our country."

What were the election results?

A presidential election was held in Venezuela on May 20, 2018, and Nicolas Maduro was re-elected for a second six-year term.

The original electoral date was scheduled for December 2018 but was subsequently pulled ahead to 22 April before being pushed back to 20 May.

With a turnout of 32.2 per cent, this was the lowest in Venezuela's history and the election was considered only for show.

Maduro won 67.84 per cent of the vote to win.

Henri Falcon came in second with 20.93 per cent of the vote.

Who supports Maduro?

Venezuelan military bosses are in support of Maduro's presidency still and in a tweet on Wednesday Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino confirmed he stands by Maduro.

The Supreme Court too remains with the Marxist leader, and ruled earlier this week that actions taken by congress while led by Guaido are invalid.

Russia has also stated that Maduro is Venezuela's true president, warning Trump against military action.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his country stands by Maduro, urging him to "stand tall".

China has also backed him saying it opposes interference, backing Venezuela's independence and stability.