Abrams: âInterim Presidentâ of Venezuela Not Violating Rules Because They Were Changed for Him

Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond
From Venezuela and made by Venezuelan Chavistas
The US-backed âinterim presidentâ of Venezuela Juan Guaido isnât violating the 30-day constitutional limit because the legislature backing him voted to make it not apply, âexplainedâ the US special envoy Elliott Abrams.
Guaido was declared âinterim presidentâ by the National Assembly on January 23, under Article 233 of the Venezuelan constitution, which limits the institution to 30 days. But his term did not expire on February 23, because the National Assembly passed a resolution declaring that the 30-day countdown wonât start until âusurperâ President Nicolas Maduro steps down, Abrams told reporters at the State Department on Friday.
RELATED CONTENT: International Media Stop Calling Guaido âInterim Presidentâ
Asked by AP diplomatic correspondent Matt Lee if that rule can be changed after the fact, Abrams replied, âYou donât get a vote, because youâre not in the National Assembly.â
âYouâre not in the National Assembly either!â Lee fired back.
The US recognizes the National Assembly as âthe only legitimate, democratic institution left in Venezuela,â Abrams told reporters. The legislative body was last elected in 2015, and Venezuelaâs Supreme Court ruled that it was superseded by the Constitutional Assembly elected in 2017 â but Washington has refused to recognize the legitimacy of that election.
The US and 53 of its allies have recognized Guaido as Venezuelaâs âlegitimateâ leader, but even Abrams acknowledged on Friday that he doesnât actually hold power. Faced with questions about the recognition amounting to only a quarter of the worldâs countries, the State Department has repeatedly argued that the number doesnât matter, because the countries that sided with the US are âdemocraciesâ and that is supposed to count for more somehow.
Abrams said the same thing on Friday, calling Guaidoâs backers âmany of the most influential democracies in the world.â