Venezuela’s controversial leader Nicolas Maduro spoke at a rally for early parliamentary elections on Saturday. These should take place this year, originally the elections were scheduled for 2020. Meanwhile, tens of thousands protested for self-appointed interim President Juan Guaido.
In front of thousands of supporters, Maduro said that the Constituent Assembly’s agenda was under consideration to give preference to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2020, and that he was „in agreement“ with them. Maduro deposed the opposition-dominated parliament in 2017 and convened a constituent assembly, in which the supporters of Maduro set the tone.
Maduro’s speech at the closing rally was his first appearance in public since an alleged attempt to attack him with two explosives-laden drones in early August. The reason for the rally was, according to official statements, the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of Maduro’s mentor Hugo Chavez. As head of state with Cuban backing, Chavez set about rebuilding the oil-rich country in the spirit of „21st century socialism.“ Chavez died in 2013 of cancer, Maduro was elected in controversial elections to his successor.
At the same time, tens of thousands of people took to the streets for self-appointed interim President Juan Guaido. The transfer of power is imminent, Guaido said in a speech to his supporters in Caracas. „We swear: we’ll stay on the streets until there is freedom, a transitional government and new elections,“ said Guaido.
Support for the protests against Maduro meanwhile comes from the USA. „This is not a time of dialogue, it is the time of action. And the time has come to end Maduro’s dictatorship once and for all, „said US Vice President Mike Pence on Friday in a speech to Exilevene Gazans in the State of Florida. „The US is trying to contribute to a peaceful transition to democracy through diplomatic and economic pressure. But: All options are on the table, „says Pence.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido
Reuters / Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Guaido spoke to tens of thousands of people who took to the streets for the self-proclaimed interim president
Deadline for new elections expires on Sunday
Guaido is the president of the opposition-controlled but Maduro-defunct parliament. He had declared himself head of the Transitional State on 23 January, openly challenging the President. Guaido argues that Maduro’s re-election last year did not meet democratic standards.
In addition to the US, a number of Latin American countries recognized Guaido immediately. In Europe, Maduro was set an eight-day deadline for new elections, but Maduro refused. Should Maduro not withdraw by then, states such as Germany, Britain, France and Spain should also recognize Guaido on Monday. „Austria and many other countries recognize states, not governments,“ said FPÖ Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, the most recent official, on questions about how Austria would react. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) but expressed his support for parliamentary leader Guaido, said Kneissl.
Uruguay and Mexico wanted to mediate
An attempt to mediate the previously neutral countries Mexico and Uruguay rejected Guaido. „To neutralize oneself at this historic moment means to side with the regime that has condemned hundreds of thousands of people to misery, hunger, exile and death,“ he wrote in a letter to the presidents of the two countries.
The self-proclaimed interim president recently tried to break up the international front of Maduro supporters and win Russia and China for themselves. Her investments in the South American crisis state are better protected under his government than under the Maduros, he said.
Rangher General recognizes Guaido
Meanwhile, for the first time, a senior military of Maduro called himself behind Guaido. In a video spread on Twitter, Air Force General Francisco Yanez called on the military to deny Maduro his allegiance: „I do not recognize the dictatorial power of Nicolas Maduro,“ it says. Yanez announced that he recognized Guaido as transitional president of the country.
The Venezuelan Air Force chief, General Pedro Alberto Juliac Lartiguez, described the two-star general as a „traitor“, which is also associated with corruption cases. As a planning officer, he had no troops or aircraft under his command had Juliac Lartiguez wrote on Saturday on his Twitter account.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton then called on the Venezuelan military to renounce Maduro and support Guaido. On Twitter, he wrote that his country calls on all army personnel to follow the example of Venezuelan Air Force General Francisco Yanez.
