Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has broken off relations with the US after it recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president. Mr Maduro gave US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.
On Wednesday Mr Guaidó declared himself president during mass protests. The US said “former President Maduro” no longer had authority and urged the army to back Mr Guaidó instead. So far the army has remained loyal to Mr Maduro. Venezuela has been in economic freefall under President Maduro. Hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of basic items have driven millions of people from the country.
Thousands of Venezuelans attended a rally on Wednesday in support of Mr Guaidó, who is the head of the National Assembly. He told the cheering crowd that protests would continue “until Venezuela is liberated”. Mr Guaidó then raised his right hand and said: “I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president,” vowing to lead a transitional government and hold free elections.
He called on the armed forces – who have so far backed Mr Maduro – to disobey the government. Venezuelan NGOs said that 14 people were shot dead during protests on Tuesday and Wednesday.
President Donald Trump recognised Mr Guaidó as interim president in an apparently co-ordinated move minutes after the 35-year-old declared himself acting leader. In a statement, he described Mr Maduro’s leadership as “illegitimate”, adding: “The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.” It warned Mr Maduro not to threaten the safety of the Venezuelan people and said tougher sanctions could be imposed.
Mr Trump told journalists he was not considering military action but added that “all options are on the table”. He called on other nations to follow suit in supporting Mr Guaidó. Seven South American nations, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Paraguay have recognised Mr Guaidó as the legitimate president.
Canada is also supporting him, while the EU called for new elections. The Organization of American States (OAS) also recognised Mr Guaidó as president. Venezuela withdrew from organisation in 2017, accusing it of meddling in its internal affairs. Mexico, Bolivia and Cuba have expressed support for Mr Maduro.
He accused Washington of trying to govern Venezuela from afar and said the opposition was seeking to stage a coup. “We’ve had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it!” he said in a televised address from the presidential palace, the Miraflores, where thousands had gathered to show their support for him. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino condemned Mr Guaidó’s call for the army to switch sides.
“The nation’s soldiers don’t accept a president imposed by obscure interests, nor one self-proclaimed outside of the law,” he tweeted. Mr Maduro and his core supporters believe Venezuela’s problems are caused by US sanctions that have hampered the government by making it hard to restructure its debt.
The annual inflation rate reached 1,300,000% in the 12 months to November 2018, according to a study by the National Assembly. Mr Maduro took office in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez. He was sworn in for a second term earlier this month after a vote last May that was marred by an opposition boycott and widespread claims of vote-rigging.
Does the Trump administration have a coherent plan for raising the pressure on the Maduro regime – such as freezing assets? Crisis could simply lead to a greater calamity for the Venezuelan people. Much will depend on which way the Venezuelan military jumps.
For now, its generals may be backing the current regime. But will the lower ranks remain loyal to Mr Maduro or will they heed the growing unrest inside the country and the chorus of powerful voices coming from abroad? Mr Guaidó was a relatively unknown figure until he became president of the opposition-controlled parliament this month. Upon taking up the role, he said he had a constitutional right to assume the presidency until fresh elections were held.
The opposition won parliamentary elections in 2015, but in 2017 Mr Maduro set up a separate body, the constituent assembly, which has taken over legislative powers.
Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuela’s most popular opposition leader, is seen as the architect behind Mr Guaidó’s rise. Mr Lopez is under house arrest and considered by his supporters to be a political prisoner. As a student, Mr Guaidó led protests against Hugo Chávez, who handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor.
