The head of Venezuela‘s opposition-led legislature has proclaimed himself “acting president” in a bid to oust leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, winning immediate backing from regional powers led by the United States.
The move by Juan Guaido — which came as thousands of rival protesters jammed the streets of Caracas, at times clashing with riot police — sharply raised the stakes in the oil-rich nation become impoverished under Maduro.
It also capped days of political drama that has seen 13 protesters killed in two days across the country — mostly from gunshot wounds, the Caracas-based Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict told AFP.
“I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president of Venezuela to end the usurpation, (install) a transitional government and hold free elections,” the 35-year-old Guaido told a throng of cheering supporters.
Within minutes, US President Donald Trump issued a statement declaring Maduro “illegitimate” and calling the National Assembly “the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people.”
A dozen regional players soon followed suit, with Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Canada among those backing Guaido, although Mexico and Cuba stood firm in support of Maduro — as did the country’s powerful military.
A furious Maduro responded by breaking off diplomatic ties with the “imperialist” US government, giving its diplomats 72 hours to leave.
Get out! Leave Venezuela, here there’s dignity, damn it,” shouted Maduro to the cheers of thousands of supporters outside the presidential palace in Caracas.
Guaido retorted with an open letter urging foreign powers to maintain their diplomatic presence in the country.
The US later hit back, saying Maduro lacked the authority to carry out such a move and it would continue to “conduct our relations with Venezuela through the government of interim President Guaido.”
Maduro’s isolation was in fact starkly apparent as the international community closed ranks around Guaido — and against the leftist leader, reelected in May in snap elections boycotted by the opposition and denounced around the world.
In Washington, a top administration official issued a stern warning to Maduro‘s regime not to use force against the opposition, adding such a move would mean “all options are on the table for the United States in regards to action to be taken.”
But leading regional power Brazil, while recognizing Guaido’s declared leadership, said it would not participate in any military intervention.
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In Brussels, EU Council President Donald Tusk said that “unlike Maduro” Guaido’s National Assembly has “a democratic mandate from Venezuelan citizens.”
And the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, told Guaido: “You have all our recognition to launch the return of democracy to the country,” while the Inter-American Development said it too was willing to work with him.
Guiado’s declaration coincided with the first mass street protests in Venezuela since 125 died in clashes between April and July, 2017.
It also came shortly after Venezuela’s Supreme Court — dominated by Maduro loyalists — ordered a criminal investigation of the National Assembly for trying to depose the president.
Thousands of Maduro supporters, many wearing red, converged outside the presidential palace, Miraflores, to oppose what they see as a US-backed opposition coup attempt.
But elsewhere in Caracas, tens of thousands of opposition supporters, many dressed in white, chanted, “Guaido, friend, the people are with you” as they waved Venezuelan flags.
“Brothers and sisters, today I step forward with you in the knowledge that we are in a dictatorship,” said Guaido.
AFP
