Maduro rival Guaido claims Venezuela presidency with U.S. backing

[webfact]

Maduro rival Guaido claims Venezuela presidency with U.S. backing

By Angus Berwick, Mayela Armas and Corina Pons

 

Juan Guaido, President of Venezuela's National Assembly, during a rally against President Maduro's government in Caracas, January 23. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president on Wednesday, winning the backing of Washington and many Latin American nations and prompting socialist Nicolas Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013, to break relations with the United States.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump formally recognized Guaido shortly after his announcement and praised his plan to hold elections. That was swiftly followed by similar statements from Canada and a slew of right-leaning Latin American governments, including Venezuela's neighbors Brazil and Colombia.

 

At a rally in the east of the capital Caracas that drew hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, Guaido accused Maduro of usurping power. He promised to create a transitional government that would help the country escape its hyperinflationary economic collapse.

 

"I swear to assume all the powers of the presidency to secure an end to the usurpation," 35-year old Guaido, the head of the opposition-run congress, told an exuberant crowd.

 

Guaido's declaration takes Venezuela into uncharted territory, with the possibility of the opposition now running a parallel government recognized abroad as legitimate but without control over state functions.

 

In a televised broadcast from the presidential palace, Maduro accused the opposition of seeking to stage a coup with the support of the United States, which he said was seeking to govern Venezuela from Washington.

 

"We've had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it! Here is a people willing to defend this land," said Maduro, flanked by top Socialist Party leaders.

 

Any change of government will rest on a shift in allegiance within the armed forces. So far, they have stood by Maduro through two waves of street protests and a steady dismantling of democratic institutions.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Venezuelan military to protect "the welfare and well-being of all Venezuelan citizens," along with U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Pompeo said the United States would take "appropriate actions" against anyone who endangered the safety of U.S. personnel.

 

The United States would conduct its diplomatic relations with Venezuela through "the government of interim President Guaido," he said.

 

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Wednesday that the armed forces did not recognize a self-proclaimed president "imposed by shadowy interests ... outside the law." Military top brass indicated their continued support for Maduro in tweets.

 

BROKEN STATUE

In a potent symbol of Venezuelan anger, demonstrators in the southern city of Puerto Ordaz on Tuesday toppled a statue of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. They broke the statue in half and dangled part of it from a bridge.

 

Maduro took power in 2013 after his mentor Chavez died. As the oil price sank and revenues dried up, the social welfare programs designed by Chavez faltered. Venezuela spiraled into its worst-ever economic crisis, with hyperinflation forecast to reach 10 million percent this year.

 

But Maduro nevertheless started a second term on Jan. 10, following a widely-boycotted election last year that many foreign governments described as a sham.

 

In the Chacao district of eastern Caracas, a traditional opposition bastion, a dozen protesters spoke of a renewed confidence in dislodging Maduro and predicted a new wave of demonstrations.

 

Many said they had protested in previous years but had lost hope as Maduro tightened his grip on power. Some 3 million Venezuelans have fled abroad over the past five years to escape widespread shortages of food and medicine.

 

"The struggle will be long," said Ciro Cirino on Altamira plaza, minutes after police on motorbikes charged a crowd of several thousand protesters, firing tear gas to disperse them.

 

"The police push us back - once, twice, three times - and we keep going back. We are going to be here until there is a change," said Cirino, a 35-year-old computer programmer.

 

Venezuela's constitution says if the presidency is determined to be vacant, new elections should be called in 30 days and that the head of the congress should assume the presidency in the meantime.

 

However, the pro-government Supreme Court has ruled that all actions taken by the National Assembly congress are null and void and the government has jailed dozens of opposition leaders and activists for seeking to overthrow Maduro through violent street demonstrations in 2014 and 2017.

 

As pressure mounts on Maduro both internally and externally, the Trump administration is considering sanctions on Venezuelan oil as soon as this week, according to sources.

 

The South American OPEC country has the largest crude reserves in the world and is a major supplier to U.S. refiners, though output is hovering near 70-year lows and reaction in the oil markets was muted on Wednesday.

 

Local bonds rebounded, with Venezuela's benchmark 2027 bond trading above 31 cents on the dollar for the first time since May 2018.

 

Eight people have so far died across Venezuela in clashes with police this week and authorities have arrested 59 people since Monday, according to local officials and rights groups.

 

On Caracas' streets on Wednesday, protesters wielding rocks and clubs clashed with police, according to Reuters witnesses.

 

"We're hungry. Look how skinny I am: there's no food in my house," said one young man in Chacao, holding a molotov cocktail. He declined to give his name. "We have to get rid of Maduro."

 

(Reporting by Corina Pons, Angus Berwick, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Deisy Buitrago and Brian Ellsworth in Caracas; Additional reporting by Francisco Aguilar in Barinas and Maria Ramirez in Puerto Ordaz, and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Alistair Bell)

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-24

[geriatrickid]

Rather annoying to see the emphasis on the US recognition and "Right wing" South American countries, in an effort to delegitimize the fact that the opposition actually won the election.  Multiple moderates and left of center countries were quick to recognize the legitimate winner of the election. For the record the following countries all joined together; 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. 

 

Columbia's largest elected representation is from its Liberal party which is progressive, left of center. Another major faction is the left of center Social party. There are also conservatives elected, but to label  Columbia right wing is  inaccurate. Panama is centrist, moderate. Canada is left of center. Costa Rica is progressive, moderate. Chile has a moderate conservative government and is not "right wing".

 

The reason why so many progressive governments are opposed to Maduro is because of the human rights and refugee crisis he has caused due to his  rigged election. Maduro should go back to driving a bus.

 

 

 

[Boon Mee]

 Good. Perhaps the people of Venezuela can now get some relief. 

[DM07]

Great, how the USA once again stand up for freedom and democracy...in countries and against governments, they don't agree with!

All hail, the world police!

[stevenl]

3 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Rather annoying to see the emphasis on the US recognition and "Right wing" South American countries, in an effort to delegitimize the fact that the opposition actually won the election.  Multiple moderates and left of center countries were quick to recognize the legitimate winner of the election. For the record the following countries all joined together; 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. 

 

Columbia's largest elected representation is from its Liberal party which is progressive, left of center. Another major faction is the left of center Social party. There are also conservatives elected, but to label  Columbia right wing is  inaccurate. Panama is centrist, moderate. Canada is left of center. Costa Rica is progressive, moderate. Chile has a moderate conservative government and is not "right wing".

 

The reason why so many progressive governments are opposed to Maduro is because of the human rights and refugee crisis he has caused due to his  rigged election. Maduro should go back to driving a bus.

 

 

 

I would say your center is quite to the right.

[Benmart]

55 minutes ago, DM07 said:

Great, how the USA once again stand up for freedom and democracy...in countries and against governments, they don't agree with!

All hail, the world police!

Perhaps it is better to ask the Venezuelan people how they feel about their home grown police and the dire conditions in their country.

 

Your world must be pretty comfortable, stable and unregulated. Perhaps your country's political, colonial and military history is unblemished. Is it possible that you lack any experience living under a corrupt and oppressive government? Such an armchair, coffee drinking, smuggish conclusion is, in this instance, slanted and without merit.

[DM07]

31 minutes ago, Benmart said:

Perhaps it is better to ask the Venezuelan people how they feel about their home grown police and the dire conditions in their country.

 

Your world must be pretty comfortable, stable and unregulated. Perhaps your country's political, colonial and military history is unblemished. Is it possible that you lack any experience living under a corrupt and oppressive government? Such an armchair, coffee drinking, smuggish conclusion is, in this instance, slanted and without merit.

Dude...I live in Thailand!

????

 

The USA is once again playing "clean up" in Middle- and South America, like they have done many times before!

I don't recall them, asking the population of Nicaragua, when they actively helped in overthrowing the government!

 

And to rest of your ...ahm..."interesting" points: where do you live, oh champion of the oppressed? 

[Jingthing]

I would say your center is quite to the right.

Even our left is rightish. You have to go far far left in the US to get even close.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[simple1]

32 minutes ago, DM07 said:

And to rest of your ...ahm..."interesting" points: where do you live, oh champion of the oppressed? 

????

[Jingthing]

So if Hillery Clinton proclaims herself the new President of the United States and has the backing of, say, the European Union or China - then she's declared the new POTUS?  Interesting new form of social democracy emerging in this brave new world, 'eh? 
 
Even better, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declares herself as POTUS with the backing of the socialist Latin American countries and she is proclaimed the President and The Don gets the boot.  It would be good material for a new Dan Simmons book.  [emoji12]

Not equivalents at all. Let's talk about what's happening in Venezuela here, OK?

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[guest879]

when America becomes socialist which foreign countries will determine who is the right full president?

 

[Jingthing]

when America becomes socialist which foreign countries will determine who is the right full president?
 

Have you been paying attention to exactly what's been happening in Venezuela and how their total breakdown is threatening much of South America as well?

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[JimmyJ]

The US government is again trying to overthrow a sovereign country’s elected leader.

This is a criminal act.

 

The U.S. has a long history of working with fascists, dictators, druglords & state sponsors of terrorism all over the world, in its relentless quest for unchallenged global power.

 

Trump's approval rating is 35%, the USA is in turmoil.

Is the following allright with all of you supporters of the illegal per international law USA attempted coup of the democratically elected President of Venezuela:

  China, Russia, Korea, Turkey, and Syria declare Nancy Pelosi the President of the United States, and Pelosi agrees?

 

Venezuela has the world's largest known store of oil.

That is what this is about.

Astonishing that any adult can believe this has the slightest connection to "democracy" and caring about the population.

Trying to deny the people of Venezuela the President they democratically elected is anti-democratic by its very nature.

 

 

 

 

[Baerboxer]

50 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

The US government is again trying to overthrow a sovereign country’s elected leader.

This is a criminal act.

 

The U.S. has a long history of working with fascists, dictators, druglords & state sponsors of terrorism all over the world, in its relentless quest for unchallenged global power.

 

Trump's approval rating is 35%, the USA is in turmoil.

Is the following allright with all of you supporters of the illegal per international law USA attempted coup of the democratically elected President of Venezuela:

  China, Russia, Korea, Turkey, and Syria declare Nancy Pelosi the President of the United States, and Pelosi agrees?

 

Venezuela has the world's largest known store of oil.

That is what this is about.

Astonishing that any adult can believe this has the slightest connection to "democracy" and caring about the population.

Trying to deny the people of Venezuela the President they democratically elected is anti-democratic by its very nature.

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm. Remember when the elected Venezuela Congress went against Maduro? He simply set up his own puppet chamber and tried to ignore them. Followed by a rigged election after many opposition leaders and protesters were killed, tortured or imprisoned.

 

Not exactly democratic is he? More out of the mold of those old Democratic People's Socialist Republics of Eastern Europe. 

 

They all seem to follow Animal Farm to understand equality.

[stevenl]

20 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Hmmm. Remember when the elected Venezuela Congress went against Maduro? He simply set up his own puppet chamber and tried to ignore them. Followed by a rigged election after many opposition leaders and protesters were killed, tortured or imprisoned.

 

Not exactly democratic is he? More out of the mold of those old Democratic People's Socialist Republics of Eastern Europe. 

 

They all seem to follow Animal Farm to understand equality.

Yes, very true.

 

But it is also true that the US track record supporting or initiating regime change is appalling.

[JimmyJ]

18 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Hmmm. Remember when the elected Venezuela Congress went against Maduro? He simply set up his own puppet chamber and tried to ignore them. Followed by a rigged election after many opposition leaders and protesters were killed, tortured or imprisoned.

 

Not exactly democratic is he? More out of the mold of those old Democratic People's Socialist Republics of Eastern Europe. 

 

They all seem to follow Animal Farm to understand equality.

"Followed by a rigged election..."

 

"International Observers to Venezuela’s Election Pen Letter to the EU"

 

"I was a member of a roughly hundred-strong core of observers of the May 20 Venezuelan election...

 

We were unanimous in concluding that the elections were conducted fairly, that the election conditions were not biased, that genuine irregularities were exceptionally few and of a very minor nature. There was no vote buying because there is no way that a vote CAN be bought..."

 

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13899

[metisdead]

A troll post and a reply has been removed. 

[bristolboy]

10 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

"Followed by a rigged election..."

 

"International Observers to Venezuela’s Election Pen Letter to the EU"

 

"I was a member of a roughly hundred-strong core of observers of the May 20 Venezuelan election...

 

We were unanimous in concluding that the elections were conducted fairly, that the election conditions were not biased, that genuine irregularities were exceptionally few and of a very minor nature. There was no vote buying because there is no way that a vote CAN be bought..."

 

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13899

"I was a member of a roughly hundred-strong core of observers of the May 20 Venezuelan election..."

who appointed themselves. Why should anyone believe them? Especially given the huge refugee problem and the economic collapse of that nation?

[JimmyJ]

"Manufacturing Consent for the 2018 Elections in Venezuela and Colombia"

 

Begin with p. 141 and continue for a few pages for an excellent comparison on how the US propaganda machine characterized the 2018 Venezuelan election, compared to the 2018 Colombian election, and the reality of both elections:

 

"The  Venezuelan  opposition  (and  the  US  government)  had  been  demanding an immediate  presidential  election  for  over  a  year.  When  Maduro  acquiesced,  they demanded  it  be  pushed  back.  When  he  accepted  this they  decided  to  boycott  their own election, with both the opposition and the US government predetermining it to be fraudulent.

 

They demanded that UN election observers not come to oversee the
events  as  they  would  likely  'legitimize'  them  (Reuters,  2018).  In  contrast,  the supposedly dictatorial Venezuelan government pleaded with the UN to send as many observers as possible."

 

http://journalcontent.mediatheoryjournal.org/index.php/mt/article/view/65/56

[JimmyJ]

13 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

"I was a member of a roughly hundred-strong core of observers of the May 20 Venezuelan election..."

who appointed themselves. Why should anyone believe them? Especially given the huge refugee problem and the economic collapse of that nation?

"Especially given the huge refugee problem and the economic collapse of that nation?"

 

Neither of which have any relation to the issue under discussion, or even the issue which you are responding to: Why believe the statement of 100 election observers?

[bristolboy]

Just now, JimmyJ said:

"Especially given the huge refugee problem and the economic collapse of that nation?"

 

Neither of which have any relation to the issue under discussion, or even the issue which you are responding to: Was the election "rigged" and undemocratic?

Because it seems extremely unlikely that in a country with conditions being so miserable for everyone except a well-connected few, that citizens are going to vote to retain that government.

[Bluespunk]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

In a televised broadcast from the presidential palace, Maduro accused the opposition of seeking to stage a coup with the support of the United States, which he said was seeking to govern Venezuela from Washington.

I don't like maduro, but he has a point here...not saying it would be a bad thing though.

 

At least if there was a rational incumbent in the white house, that is

[Jingthing]

Some hopeful comments that the Venezuelan people can and will win against the nightmare of Maduro madness, but we can't know yet if it will be soon or not, or exactly when. 

Quote

Venezuela’s revolution will keep happening slowly — and then all at once

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/venezuelas-revolution-will-keep-happening-slowly--and-then-all-at-once/2019/01/24/7f3adae8-200e-11e9-8e21-59a09ff1e2a1_story.html

[Credo]

Well, the US will stay out of it.   Direct orders from the Kremlin:

 

Russian official warns Trump administration against military intervention in Venezuela

WASHINGTON – A senior Russian official on Thursday warned the Trump administration against military intervention in Venezuela, saying it would create a "catastrophic scenario" in the region. 

"We warn against this," Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said in an interview with International Affairs magazine, a Russian media outlet. "We believe that this would be a catastrophic scenario that would shake the foundations of the development model we see in the Latin American region."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-official-warns-trump-administration-121727719.html

[neeray]

This is not shaping up well at all. Especially at a time when DJT is desperately in need of a serious deflection at home, what with his legal troubles climbing and his wall dream falling.

[Damrongsak]

15 hours ago, DM07 said:

Great, how the USA once again stand up for freedom and democracy...in countries and against governments, they don't agree with!

All hail, the world police!

You think Maduro has done a good job? Maybe the USA should just issue apologies, as in "Sorry you got screwed. We feel for you.  See you on a boat soon." 

[JimmyJ]

WikiLeaks‏ -

 

"Obama 2011: Gaddafi, producing 1.6 million barrels of oil per day, must go.

Result: Chaos, death, arms spread into Syria & Mali, terrorism, refugees, Brexit.

 

Trump 2019: Maduro, producing 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, must go.

Result: unknown.

 

Is Venezuela Trump's Libya?"

[JimmyJ]

Some past examples of the USA spreading democracy and freedom, including many from Central and South America:

 

 

Let's not forget the role of the CIA in fingering Mandela, leading to his spending 27 years in brutal prisons.

[bristolboy]

11 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Some past examples of the USA spreading democracy and freedom:

 

So it's been 40 years already since the last CIA effort to overthrow a government?

[JimmyJ]

1 hour ago, Credo said:

Well, the US will stay out of it.   Direct orders from the Kremlin:

 

Russian official warns Trump administration against military intervention in Venezuela

WASHINGTON – A senior Russian official on Thursday warned the Trump administration against military intervention in Venezuela, saying it would create a "catastrophic scenario" in the region. 

"We warn against this," Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said in an interview with International Affairs magazine, a Russian media outlet. "We believe that this would be a catastrophic scenario that would shake the foundations of the development model we see in the Latin American region."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-official-warns-trump-administration-121727719.html

 

"Well, the US will stay out of it.   Direct orders from the Kremlin:"

 

 

 

Trump is a Putin puppet.

 

Putin supports Maduro.

 

Trump does not support Maduro.

 

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