Venezuela opposition removes interim President Guaido

Venezuela’s opposition national assembly voted to remove interim President Juan Guaido, dissolve his government and appoint a commission to govern the country’s foreign assets, as lawmakers seek a united front ahead of elections slated for 2024.

The vote, which came in an online session on Friday, reflects a changing balance of power within the opposition, which is trying to find new ways to connect with voters ahead of the nation’s 2024 presidential election and defeat left-wing leader Nicolas Maduro.

The article eliminating the interim government and the article creating the assets commission passed with 72 votes in favour, 29 against and 8 abstentions.

Three of four major opposition groups – Justice First, Democratic Action and A New Era – backed the bill to remove Guaido and create the five-member commission to manage foreign assets, especially United States-based refiner Citgo, a subsidiary of state-owned oil company PDVSA.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I make this vote,” said Luis Silva, a member of the Democratic Action party who participated in the online session for the vote.

“We haven’t been able to come up with a unanimous decision, but we need to look for new strategies.”

Supporters say opposition control of foreign assets is not at risk and the dissolution is necessary for unity ahead of the elections.

Guaido has been the public face of Venezuela’s fractious opposition since 2019, when he invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, garnering backing from the United States and other governments that rejected the 2018 re-election of Maduro.