Venezuelan opposition eliminates the “interim government” of Guaidó

The opposition of Venezuela Eliminated this Friday the “interim government” of Juan Guaidó, recognized by the United States, after four years of failed offensive to try to depose the socialist president Nicolás Maduro.

Members of Parliament, elected in 2015, with an opposition majority and whose term expired last year, decided the end of this figure as of January 5 with 72 votes in favor, 29 against and eight abstentions in a session via videoconference. That legislature defends its continuity by calling the triumph of pro-government Chavismo in the 2020 legislative elections fraudulent.

The initiative to end the interim, which was never able to assume real power despite broad international support, although it was given control of Venezuelan assets blocked abroad by sanctions, was promoted by three of the main opposition political parties: First Justice (PJ), Democratic Action (AD) and A New Time (UNT).

It was the second of two necessary votes, in which the proposal required a simple majority.

The first took place on Thursday of last week. The project to end the “presidency in charge” then received the same 72 votes.

party member Popular will (VP), of the exiled leader Leopoldo López, Guaido He had asked the day before to maintain the figure of the “interim government” “above names”, raising the possibility of being replaced by another leader – that proposal was discarded on Friday.

Guaido He proclaimed himself “president in charge” in a public square on January 5, 2019, with the support of the United States and fifty countries, alleging that Maduro’s re-election in 2018 was a fraud.

That international support, however, has been diluted. Washington, although it maintains its formal recognition of the “interim government”, has sent delegates to meet with Maduro in the midst of the oil crisis unleashed by the sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine, while governments of Latin American countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Argentina turned toward the left.

The opposition plans primaries in 2023 with a view to the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2024. Guaidó sounds like a candidate.

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