Nearly four years after Juan Guaido’s self-proclamation, a large part of his early supporters want to put an end to the impasse. In a statement, 69 of the 112 opponents who had voted for his appointment as interim president in 2019, when the opposition controlled Parliament, called on Wednesday, December 21, for the end of the “interim government” of Mr. Guaido, considering that this system had weakened without achieving its political objectives.
“We address the country (…) for the implementation of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela [et] the termination of the functions of the interim government scheduled for next January 4”says a statement signed by 69 of the 112 opponents who had backed Guaido’s self-declaration as interim president in 2019.
“The expected goals of liberation have not been achieved and the country demands new paths that will lead us to democracy”continues the text of the group composed of members of the largest opposition parties: Accion Democratica (AD), Primero Justicia (PJ) and Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT).
This initiative comes on the eve of the session of the Parliament elected in 2015, which claims to be legitimate by considering that the legislative elections of 2020, won by the Chavista camp of President Nicolas Maduro, were fraudulent.
International support has crumbled
This session was convened at the end of last week by Juan Guaido, who affirms that his “interim presidency” is “essential” for the “non-recognition of the regime” of Nicolas Maduro, for the diplomatic recognition and the “protection” of the country’s assets abroad.
“I can say with certainty that the constitutional mechanism (…) that we defended was useful in disavowing the dictatorship and delivering aid (…), protect assets, support this stage of democratic resistance”said Mr. Guaido in a video posted on social media in which he asks to wait for the results of the debate.
The signatories of Wednesday’s text argue for their part that the vast international support enjoyed by Juan Guaido in 2019 has crumbled. If the United States remains at his side, he has since lost the support of countries like Argentina, Mexico, Peru and more recently Colombia, all of which have gone to the left.
The existence of the “provisional government” has sparked dissension in the opposition in recent months, which is calling for primaries in 2023 to choose its sole candidate who will be called upon to face Nicolas Maduro in the presidential election of 2024.