Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó announced early Tuesday morning that he had finally secured the backing of the nation’s armed forces, who would proceed to remove dictator Nicolás Maduro and allow Guaidó to exercise the powers of his office.
Guaidó appeared in images on Twitter alongside Leopoldo López, the head of his socialist Popular Will party, at the La Carlota Airbase, where he claimed the soldiers had agreed to his status as legitimate commander-in-chief. López has been under house arrest since being accused of “terrorism” for organizing peaceful protests against dictator Nicolás Maduro in 2014.
“People of Venezuela, a very good morning, as you know our struggle has always been couched in the constitution, in non-violent struggle, in working for our neighbors, in saving lives, in working for the most vulnerable,” Guaidó said on Twitter. “When the international community amply supported Venezuela, we will be with the people.”
“We make a plea to government employees … our brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men attached to the constitution, have heeded our call today,” he declared.
Guaidó requested that Venezuelans flood the streets to take over. He had planned a thousands-strong rally for May 1, typically a holiday to celebrate Marxism, but, he said in his message, “May 1st has arrived today.”
VIDEO | Mensaje del presidente (E) Juan Guaidó desde la base aérea La Carlota en Caracas: “Pueblo de Venezuela inició el fin de la usurpación” (1/2) pic.twitter.com/inSvOCSIoj
— Centro de Comunicación Nacional (@Presidencia_VE) April 30, 2019
Guaidó declared that the military had joined “Operation Liberty,” his name for the plan, led by the nation’s legislature, to remove Maduro.
“People of Venezuela, it is necessary that we go out to the street today, to back democratic forces and recover our freedom,” Guaidó announced. “Organized and together, move to the [country’s] main military units. People of Caracas, come to La Carlota.”
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See Also:
(1) Amid Violence In Venezuela, Maduro Digs In
(2) ‘Military action is possible’ in Venezuela, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says
