In Venezuela, Reactionary GuaidĂł Humiliated by National Assembly Defeat


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From Venezuela and made by Venezuelan Chavistas

By John Catalinotto posted – January 17, 2020
The self-appointed âinterim presidentâ of Venezuela, Juan GuaidĂł, received a humiliating setback in that countryâs National Assembly vote on Jan. 5. He was deposed as leader of the parliamentary body.
Throughout 2019, GuaidĂł served as the designated puppet of U.S. imperialism in Venezuela. He made five attempts with a reactionary, pro-U.S. regime to overthrow and replace the Bolivarian government led by President NicolĂĄs Maduro. GuaidĂł had no base among Venezuelans outside of his own assembly district and little credibility even among the opposition.
His main support came from the worst imperialist operatives allied with the Trump administration: Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Marco Rubio, Elliott Abrams, from Trump himself; from Luis Almagro â the Uruguayan U.S. agent heading the Organization of American States; the IvĂĄn Duque regime in Colombia; Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil; and from the European Union.
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GuaidĂłâs complete lack of popular support helped defeat all five of his attempts to make a coup during 2019. He was also connected to the embezzlement of humanitarian aid and links to Colombian paramilitary outfits â âdeath squads.â
Opposition parties have dominated the National Assembly (AN) since the December 2015 vote. Apparently a majority of the representatives, even those opposing the Maduro government, were disgusted with GuaidĂłâs role.
On Jan. 5, some 81 of 150 voting members elected Luis Parra president, replacing GuaidĂł, who didnât attend the meeting. GuaidĂł claimed he wasnât allowed in, staging a fence-climbing photo-op.
Maduro recognized Parra as the new AN president, saying on Jan. 5: âThe National Assembly has voted and there is a new leadership board. It was in the air that GuaidĂł was going to be removed by the very opposition.â Maduro criticized GuaidĂł for ânot showing up.â
Parra said he would âpursue a path toward reconciliationâ with the government. (quotes from venezuelaanalysis.com, Jan. 5)
On Jan. 8, GuaidĂł declared the Jan. 5 vote irregular and established his own version of the national assembly, with himself as its leader.
That means GuaidĂł is the self-appointed leader of a self-appointed assembly, which he claims gives him the right to be the self-appointed president. Pence congratulated him.
While his obvious lack of popular support may make him a ridiculous figure, U.S. imperialismâs backing for GuaidĂł continues the threat against Venezuelaâs revolution and its sovereignty. The progressive movement in the United States must still resist U.S. interference in Venezuela and demand an end to U.S. sanctions that have imposed suffering on millions of Venezuelans.
Featured image: GuaidĂł attempts and fails to rally right-wing reaction in Venezuela.