Supporters Of Venezuela’s Maduro Try To Seize Control Of Legislature – By Scott Neuman (NPR) / Jan 6 2020
Venezuelan security forces on Sunday blocked opposition leader Juan Guaidó from a special session of the National Assembly, where he was expected to be re-elected as the legislature’s leader – an apparent bid by President Nicolás Maduro to outmaneuver the man who has staked a rival claim to the presidency.
In Guaidó’s absence, supporters of Maduro elected one of their own to head the body. Hours later, however, a majority of National Assembly lawmakers met in emergency session elsewhere, re-electing Guaidó and accusing Maduro of attempting a “parliamentary coup.”
Speaking to reporters outside the National Assembly building, Guaidó called Maduro’s supporters “traitor lawmakers” and accused them of “assassinating the republic.”
Maduro was re-elected in 2018, but the vote was widely seen as fraudulent.
The latest crisis comes nearly a year after Guaidó, who ran against Maduro, declared himself the country’s acting president with the backing of the Assembly. Guaidó quickly received recognition from the U.S. and nearly 60 other countries as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
But Maduro, who enjoys near dictatorial powers in the South American country, has tenaciously held onto power.
Continue to article: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/06/793884001/supporters-of-venezuelas-maduro-try-to-seize-control-of-legislature
