In the open power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido continues to rely on the power of the street. The 35-year-old, who declared himself interim president of the country in mass protests last week, announced new mass demonstrations on Sunday for a „free Venezuela“.
Guaido wants to give an ultimatum made by several EU states. Maduro gave the demand from Germany, France, Great Britain and Spain to call a new election by 3 February, on the weekend a clear rejection.
In a video distributed on Twitter, Guaido announced first for Wednesday’s demonstrations and finally for Saturday, the day before the expiry of the ultimatum, a „major mobilization across Venezuela and around the world.“ At the same time Guaido called on the army to „side with the people“.
The Guaido-led parliament, largely outlawed by Maduro, also published an amnesty law that assures the military of impunity if they participate in the restoration of the democratic order. „Distribute it to the soldiers in your family, among your friends and neighbors,“ Guaido wrote. Opposition MPs and student leaders handed the document over to National Guard officials.
Reference to humanitarian aid
Ask all Venezuelans to leave their homes and workplaces to demand the approval of humanitarian aid from the military on Wednesday, it said in a Twitter post by Parliament.
„Humanitarian aid is at the heart of our policy and we are now working on logistics,“ said Guaido. „We believe this will be a new dilemma for the regime and the armed forces. They have to decide if they want to be on the side of the people and want to heal the land or if they will ignore it. I think we can do it, they will let the help in. “
„Always loyal, never traitor“
In the ongoing power struggle, the military plays a key role. The leadership is demonstratively holding Maduro, but in the lower ranks, there is apparently increasingly dissatisfaction. Recently there were several small riots of soldiers. At the weekend, the military attache of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington Maduro announced his allegiance and joined Guaido.
Venezuelan President Maduro
Maduro still wants to raise no doubt who the true commander in chief of the National Bolivarian Forces is. So he visited on Sunday, among others, the 41st Brigade in the barracks Paramacay. During an exercise, the head of state ran at the side of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino through the barracks. He drove a military boat and showed himself armored with soldiers on a naval base. „Always loyal, never traitor,“ was the call of the soldiers.
„Delicate matter“
According to Guaido also lead the opposition talks with military and civilian government officials. „This is a very delicate matter, which also involves personal safety. We meet them, but discreetly, „said Guaido in a Washington Post interview.
Guaido is openly supported by a number of Latin American countries, including the USA. Because the US immediately recognized him, Maduro broke diplomatic relations with Washington and called on US diplomats to leave the country.
US National Security Advisor Donald Trump’s John Bolton warned on Sunday with sharp words of violence against the opposition or US diplomats in Venezuela. Any form of violence or intimidation against US diplomats, Guaido, or the opposition-dominated parliament would be a „serious attack on the rule of law“ and would result in a „significant response“ from Washington, Bolton wrote on Twitter
Also Israel and Australia behind Guaido
On Sunday and Monday, Israel and Australia also joined Guaido. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an online video that he recognizes „the new leadership in Venezuela“. Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her country recognizes and supports Guaido as interim president until new elections. She called for a „Transition to Democracy in Venezuela as soon as possible“. Important is a „peaceful solution“ of the conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Maduro to make free, transparent and credible elections. Otherwise, the EU will respond in the next few days on the issue of recognition of the government. There was no talk of an eight-day deadline in Mogherini’s statement of Monday. However, the EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner underlined the common position of the 28 EU states. This was also not incompatible with positions of individual member countries, as Mogherini probably noted in view of the ultimatum proposed by some EU members.
Russia accuses US coup attempt
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, meanwhile, rejected the demands as „childish“ in a heated debate in the UN Security Council. Europe does not have the power to set a deadline or an ultimatum for a sovereign people. Venezuela’s ally Russia, which has invested heavily in the oil industry of the OPEC country, criticized the European push. At the same time, Russian UN ambassador Vasily Nebensia accused the United States of supporting a coup attempt in Venezuela. In addition to Russia and China, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Turkey continue to hold Maduro.
