Another, less remarkable stunt last night at the SOTU was the celebrity acknowledgement of Juan Guaido as the “leader in exile” of Venezuela. The prize he received was something Ukraine president Zelensky has yet to receive, the credibility of a WH visit. Will the dog-wag for the post-acquittal impeached Trump be another try at a Venezuelan coup in order to affect the US election. Remaining a threat to national security seems only too close.
After what he and critics of the Maduro administration described as the "illegitimate" inauguration of Maduro on 10 January 2019, Guaidó challenged Maduro's claim to the presidency.[60] The National Assembly declared Guaidó was willing to assume the responsibilities of the presidency,[61][62] and continued to plan to remove Maduro. Guaidó told the Wall Street Journal that "[i]t's not about twisting arms, breaking kneecaps, but rather holding out a hand" and offered "amnesty to military officers who joined efforts for a transition in power".[20] They called for demonstrations on 23 January,[63][64] the 61st anniversary of the overthrow of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez.[65] Large numbers of demonstrators came out in cities throughout Venezuela and across the world.[65][66] Guaidó declared he was acting president and took the presidential oath at a rally in Caracas.[67]
Within minutes of Guaidó's swearing-in, the United States recognized him as president, followed shortly thereafter by Canada and other Latin American and European countries; Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Turkey supported Maduro.[68][10][69] Maduro accused the United States of backing a coup and said he would cut ties with the country.[67] Guaidó has denied the coup allegations, saying peaceful volunteers backed his movement.[70]
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Following the failed military uprising, representatives of Guaidó and Maduro began mediation, with the assistance of the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution. Jorge Rodríguez and Héctor Rodríguez Castro served as representatives for Maduro while Gerardo Blyde [es] and Stalin González were representatives for Guaidó. Guaidó confirmed that there was an envoy in Norway, but said that the opposition would not take part in false negotiations.[103] After the second meeting in Norway, no deal was reached.[104]
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Guaidó announced he would embark on a tour of the country beginning 16 March, to organize committees for Operación Libertad (trans. Operation Freedom or Operation Liberty) with the goal to claim the presidential residence, Miraflores Palace.[144] From the first rally in Carabobo state, he said, "We will be in each state of Venezuela and for each state we have visited the responsibility will be yours, the leaders, the united, [to] organize ourselves in freedom commands."[144]
As part of the ongoing tour, he visited Petare,[145] regarded as one of the world's largest slums, on 12 April.[146] In a surprise visit to the José Felix Ribas section of Petare, he brought water purification tablets to help children in a neighborhood soup kitchen.[147]
Leopoldo López appeared with Guaidó outside La Carlota Air Base in Caracas on 30 April,; the Associated Press reported that López "had been released from house arrest by security forces adhering to an order from Guaidó".[148] Guaidó live-streamed a video of himself beside López, with the two flanked by members of the Venezuelan armed forces,[149] announcing the "final phase" of Operation Freedom.[150] He stated: "People of Venezuela, it is necessary that we go out together to the street, to support the democratic forces and to recover our freedom. Organized and together, mobilize the main military units. People of Caracas, all to La Carlota".[149][151]
Expected military defections did not happen.[150] By the end of the day, one protester had died[152] and at least 100 were injured;[153][154] López was at the Spanish embassy,[155] while 25 military personnel sought asylum in the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.[156]
On 1 May, Guaidó's call for the largest march in history did not materialize and his supporters were forced to retreat by security forces using tear gas.[157] Guaidó acknowledged he had received insufficient military backing,[150] and called for strikes beginning on 2 May, with the aim of a general strike later in May.[157]
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Guaidó was a member of the centrist social-democratic Popular Will, now independent, and although his peers characterize Guaidó as a centrist, Maduro places him on the right of the political spectrum.[229][230] Regarding politics in the United States, Guaidó stated that he was unfamiliar with the subject, but has commented "What they refer to as socialist in the United States is what we’d call a Social Democrat here".[5]
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