Guaidó Declares Himself Acting President as Protests Erupt in Venezuela

On January 23, Head of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó declared himself acting president in a direct challenge to president Nicolás Maduro.

After a controversial election last May, President Maduro was re-elected to serve a second term as Venezuela’s president. However, claims of election fraud have raised doubts about President Maduro’s right to hold office. Many prominent leaders of parties opposing Maduro were barred from running. The state also published inflated voter turnout statistics; they stated that nearly 50% of registered voters participated when in reality less than half did.

Guaidó asserts that Venezuela’s constitution grants him the right to become acting president as this past election was handled illegitimately.

In response, President Nicolás Maduro accused Guaidó of attempting a coup. On January 26, Guaidó rejected Maduro’s offer of talks. At a rally in Caracas, Guaidó urged his supporters to continue protesting Maduro’s election if he was arrested. Along with his calls for nationwide demonstrations, Guaidó also appealed to the military, which remains under Maduro’s control, asking them to “put themselves on the side of the Venezuelan people.”

Venezuela’s election has split the international community. The US, Canada, and more than twelve other Latin American countries have acknowledged Guaidó as the acting president of Venezuela. In response to the United States’ decision, President Maduro has cut off diplomatic ties with the US. France, Germany, and Spain have stated that they will acknowledge Guaidó as president if a re-election isn’t held in Venezuela by February 4. Russia, China, Mexico, and Turkey have made public statement supporting Maduro.

In Venezuela, protesters continue to march in the streets as the uncertain political future of Venezuela intensifies.

Article by MoCo Student staff writer Nene Narh-Mensah of Montgomery Blair High School