Venezuela’s opposition leader called for mass protests across the country today as he announced his return to the country after a week touring Latin American allies.
“I’m announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilise all over the country today at 11am (1500GMT),” Guaido said on Twitter.
Guaido, who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as interim president, gave no details of when or how he would return.
He asked supporters to pay close attention for messages of where the demonstrations would take place today. “Let’s go Venezuela,” he said.
Defying a travel ban by President Nicolas Maduro, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia last week to try to bring in the aid and to meet with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.
The 35-year-old political newcomer continued on to Brazil, where he met the new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday travelled to Paraguay and Argentina.
He has spent the weekend in Ecuador.
Guaido stunned the world on January 23, proclaiming himself Venezuela’s acting president after the National Assembly he leads declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May re-election which was widely criticised as fraudulent.
Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections.
Maduro — who retains the support of Venezuela’s powerful military — enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro’s regime.
The socialist president warned last week that Guaido should “respect the law” and would have to “face justice” if he returns to the country.
Guaido said last week he intended to return to Venezuela “despite threats” to arrest him.
The US and other allies have expressed concern for his safety.
The European Union has warned the Venezuelan government not to arrest opposition leader Juan Guaido. “Any measure that could put at risk Guaido’s freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions and meet the firm condemnation of the international community,” the EU’S top diplomat, foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, said.
“The members of National Assembly enjoy constitutionally granted immunity that needs to be fully respected,” she wrote in a statement issued on behalf of EU member states.
Lawmakers “should be able to exercise their parliamentary mandate free of intimidation on them or their family members,” Mogherini added.
Meanwhile, Russia said it is determined to prevent a military intervention in Venezuela. The speaker of the country’s upper house of parliament said yesterday “we are very afraid that the US may stage any provocations to provoke bloodshed and find a reason and pretext for intervention in Venezuela.” Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko added “we will do our utmost to prevent this.”
Matviyenko did not say how Russia would block such a move.
Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido poses for a picture with a baby before leaving his hotel in Salinas, Ecuador, yesterday.
