U.S. Secretary of state Michael Pompeo said that the United States advocate the creation in Venezuela of a transitional government with the participation of supporters of the 57-year-old President Nicolas Maduro, whom the United States and several other countries consider illegitimate and opposition representatives
State Department Photo by Ronny Przysucha / Public Domain / Flickr According to Pompeo, it would be the first step towards the lifting of sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Venezuela, Maduro accused of usurping power. Another condition for lifting the sanctions – the withdrawal of Venezuela abroadtion “security forces”
State Department Photo by Ronny Przysucha / Public Domain / Flickr
U.S. Secretary of state Michael Pompeo said that the United States advocate the creation in Venezuela of a transitional government with the participation of supporters of the 57-year-old President Nicolas Maduro, whom the United States and several other countries consider illegitimate, and representatives of the opposition, writes The Washington Post.
it is in this government should be neither Maduro nor his opponent, recognized US legitimate acting President of Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guido. Members of the Council of five, which would manage the country until elections, to be elected by the Parliament with majority of 2/3 of votes – i.e. the votes of both the leading political forces, reports radio “Svoboda”.
According to Pompeo, it would be the first step towards the lifting of sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Venezuela, Maduro accused of usurping power. Another condition for lifting the sanctions – the withdrawal of Venezuela’s foreign “security forces”. The Secretary of state, apparently, was referring to Communist Cuba, which assists the Caracas support.
the United States first introduced the “road map” of withdrawing from the Venezuelan sanctions. To this end, Washington urged Maduro to convey the power of Guido, which would be held early elections.
Guido previously stated that it agreed with the plan similar to that suggested by Pompeo. Maduro, however, says he did not intend to relinquish power. This position was expressed by the foreign Minister of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza, reports “Interfax”.
“We are faced with the attempt of the US state Department to impose on our country offer, the true goal of interventionism and the formation of controlled (the United States. – Approx. “Interfax”) government. The Venezuelan government reiterates that it does not allow and will not allow in future any monitoring by any foreignwow the state”, – said in his statement that the Minister posted on Twitter.
And the attorney General of Venezuela on Tuesday signed a writ of Guido for questioning Thursday in the case of the conspiracy to overthrow Maduro and the violent seizure of power.
UN Secretary-General recently called for Washington to ease sanctions against Venezuela because of fears that the already difficult situation in the economy of this country will worsen in a pandemic coronavirus.
however, Washington hopes that a new plan to resolve the political crisis in Venezuela will allow Guido to nominate his candidacy for the presidency. And in the elections he will be able to win a landslide victory, as evidenced by opinion polls, says the US special envoy in Venezuela Elliott Abrams.
on the other hand, the recent protest movement in Venezuela is running out of steam. In the street opposition actions have involved fewer people even before Maduro under the pretext of combating coronavirus has introduced a nationwide quarantine, limiting the movement and prohibiting mass gatherings.
However, the position of Maduro does not look as robust as before. March 26, U.S. authorities have charged him with involvement in the narco-terrorism. According to the American investigators, Maduro and other senior officials of Venezuela for decades led the country’s largest drug cartel “Los soles”, which together with Colombian drug traffickers have supplied cocaine to the United States. And drugs, according to investigators, was used as a “weapon” against the United States, with the aim “to undermine the health and well-being of the American nation.”
Maduro now faces a life sentence, and for help in his capture promised a reward of 15 million dollars. Presumably, these charges can split the President and undermine his position of the leader.
Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. This could be the key to prosperity, if not populist policies of President Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, undermined market institutions. However, in all the many disasters that struck the country, the authorities blame external forces, including “American imperialism”.
Bolivarian Republic in recent years are experiencing acute socio-economic crisis accompanied by devaluation of the national currency, hyperinflation, shortages of goods. In the spring of 2019, it was reported about the collapse of the national health system. Due to the lack of medicines and vaccines quickly spread diseases such as measles, diphtheria, tuberculosis, malaria, and growing infant mortality. Many children suffer from hunger. According to UN estimates, the country has left more than 4 million people (approximately one in eight people).
“brain drain” turns into even greater economic problems and lack of skilled labor.The political situation in Venezuela worsened after the 23 January 2019, the opposition leader Juan Guido, whose appointment to the post of speaker of Parliament two days earlier revoked by the Supreme court of Venezuela, declared himself acting President of the country. The interim head of state recognized by the US, joined the country’s Group Lima (except Mexico), the Organization of American States and several European countries.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called the incident a coup attempt. It was supported by Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria and Turkey.
Real levers of power remained in Maduro. Despite the sanctions and economic problems, he remained loyal to the generals and the leadership of the security forces.
Russian Corporation “Rosneft” until recently helped Venezuela to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Under sanctions subsidiaries of Rosneft, who worked with Venezuela. Last week Rosneft announced the transfer of its assets in the country is actually the property of the Russian state. This will reduce the state’s share in the equity of Rosneft.
