Support for US-backed candidate dissolves in Venezuela – media
The Venezuelan opposition is considering withdrawing its support for the US-backed Juan Guaido, according to Reuters. Such a move would impact the future of Caracas’ frozen billions of dollars in overseas holdings.
Guaido's international backers, led by the US, refused to recognize Nicolas Maduro as the country's president after elections in 2018. However, despite the political challenge to him from Guaido, and the heavy sanctions introduced on his ‘regime’ by the West, Maduro has remained in power and is still considered the country’s legitimate president by most of the world.
According to Reuters’ sources, the opposition parties want to focus on choosing a single candidate to stand against Maduro in the next election, set to be held by 2024. Primaries to select a candidate are set for June 2023.
According to Reuters, five of six opposition parties will not support Guaido or any other acting leader, with only his own Voluntad Popular party prepared to continue supporting Washington's man.
A Wall Street Journal source added that Venezuela’s opposition “is getting very close to that consensus... that a new structure is needed.”
Meanwhile, a person close to Guaido, quoted by the Reuters, said that he would be prepared to step aside but only when the opposition sets out its plans for the multi-billion state assets held abroad. These include US-based oil refiner Citgo Petroleum and more than $1 billion in gold at the Bank of England.
The assets came under Guaido’s control after the US recognized the head of the National Assembly as an interim leader of the country.
Publicly, Guaido, whose term expires in January, has been insisting that his so-called interim presidency is valid until “a free and fair election.”
The US State Department in a statement quoted by Reuters said that Washington has been discussing with Guaido's team the further steps necessary for “restoration of democracy” in Venezuela.
