Venezuela Swears InOpposition Leader as President
FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images
23 Jan2019682
5:17
Juan Guaidó, the president of theNational Assembly of Venezuela, tookan oath of office on Wednesday and was sworn in as thelegitimate interim president of the country, replacing dictator NicolásMaduro.
https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2019/01/23/venezuela-swears-in-opposition-leader-as-president/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_content=links&utm_campaign=PresidentDonald Trump issued a statement shortly after the public swearing-in ceremonyrecognizing Guaidó as the legitimate head of state of Venezuela.Countries like Argentina and Brazil, as well as the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS), also recognized Guaidó.
Guaidówas elected president of the National Assembly, the only remainingdemocratically elected institution in the country, in January. He is amember of the Popular Will party led by political prisoner Leopoldo López, a member party of the Socialist International. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the party of Maduro and predecessor Hugo Chávez, is not a member of the Socialist International and the organization has publicly opposed Maduro’s dictatorship.
TheNational Assembly leader assumed the presidency of the country through theauthority vested in Articles 333 and 350 of the constitution of Venezuela. Article 333 requires all Venezuelan citizens to “assume the duty of collaborating to reestablish the constitutional order,” while Article 350 requires Venezuelan citizens to not recognize as legitimate any “regime, legislation, or authority that defies the values, principles, and democratic guarantees [in the constitution], or that violates human rights.”
TheMaduro regime has established itself through fraudulent elections and theuse of force to repress dissidents, including the establishment oftorture chambers in political prisons to silence dissent. Those who have survived those chambers say that electroshock, crucifixion, sleep deprivation, rape, and beatings are routine against peaceful dissidents.
Guaidóformally took his oath of office before a crowd of thousands in Caracas, who he had convened for a nationwide protest to end the “usurpation” of power by Maduro. After repeating the words in the oath, the crowd surrounding him sang the national anthem and burst into applause.
The newVenezuelan president also delivered a speech in which he promised among hisfirst acts as president would be allowing the entry of humanitarian aid intothe country, which Maduro has blocked claiming that a Western conspiracy exists to use the aid to invade and colonize the country. Maduro’s regime has also repeatedly denied the existence of any crisis despite widespread hunger and disease, the product of shortages of nearly every medicine necessary for a functional healthcare system and basic food goods.
“We authorizedthe entry of the humanitarian aid necessary to help our people,” he said,referring to the National Assembly. “By the way, it’s nonsense that there willbe an invasion if that is allowed, it’s a tall tale. It will be managed throughthe Organization of American States … through the constitution.”
Shortlyafter his speech, President Trump issued a statement recognizing Guaidó as thecountry’s president.
“In itsrole as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelanpeople, the National Assembly invoked the country’s constitution to declareNicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency thereforevacant,” Trump said. “The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken outagainst Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.”
“Weencourage other Western Hemisphere governments to recognize National AssemblyPresident Guaidó as the Interim President of Venezuela, and we will workconstructively with them in support of his efforts to restore constitutionallegitimacy,” Trump vowed. “As Interim President Guaidó noted yesterday:‘Violence is the usurper’s weapon; we only have one clear action: to remainunited and firm for a democratic and free Venezuela.’”
VicePresident Mike Pence, in a video released Tuesday, addressed the Venezuelan people and hinted that Trump would no longer recognize Maduro as head of state.
“NicolasMaduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power. He has never won thepresidency in a free and fair election, and has maintained his grip of power byimprisoning anyone who dares to oppose him,” Pence said. “The United Statesjoins with all freedom-loving nations in recognizing your National Assembly asthe last vestige of democracy in your country, for it is the only body electedby you, the people.”
Brazil’sconservative government announced it would recognize Guaidó last week, while the nations of Argentina and Canada followed Trump’s announcement with their own recognition.
LuisAlmagro, the head of the OAS, also congratulated Guaidó onbecoming the nation’s president. Like Guaidó, Almagro served asan official in a leftist party in his native Uruguay beforebecoming one of the most outspoken international voices againstthe Maduro regime.
Madurohas yet to address Guaidó’s inauguration. Instead, he has postedimages on Twitter of forced rallies organized by the governmentto distract from Wednesday’s nationwide protests.
At presstime, protests against the regime continue in most of Venezuela’s largest cities. Dissidents predict a violent crackdown will occur soon, as has happened after protests from 2014 on, most likely after sundown.
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