Guaidó calls on the help of the pope to force Maduro to leave power

He asked Francisco to help "show him" President Chavez on the need to launch a transition process; Leader of the Opposition warning for "bloodbath and famine"

CARACAS.- "Time is another in

Venezuela

"The president in charge of Venezuela,

Juan Guaidó

He responded to the Holy See with a subtle exercise in diplomacy, which may sound good in the Vatican. "To see[[[[

Nicolás]Maduro

the need to move towards an orderly transition process that stabilizes the country, "asked the President of the National Assembly to

Pope

during a television interview.

The transition is the second leg of the roadmap marked by Parliament – dominated by the opposition -, after the "end of the usurpation" and before the call for free and democratic elections. Guaidó and his team do not currently plan to repeat a scenario similar to that of 2016, with dialogues in which the Vatican participated as a facilitator and whose agreements had been flouted by the revolution. What they demand directly is that Maduro give up power.

"The great moral authority at the disposal of the Vatican and the Pope at best facilitates the guarantee process for some who have today refused to see the reality," said the disciple of the political prisoner Leopoldo López.

Maduro, despite historical precedents, wanted to add to the pope the attempts to resurrect the dialogue to save time, like those that took place yesterday in Montevideo, with the participation of Uruguay and the United States. Mexico (who continue to recognize Maduro) and the Union. European (EU). A "false dialogue" to which the opposition opposes frontally and only its mention causes cold sweats among its leaders and an avalanche of complaints and swearing among his supporters.

The Vatican does not plan to participate in a dialogue if there is no prior request from both sides, as was the case in 2016, where the role of Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See and former Apostolic Nuncio to Caracas, was essential. The personal letter that he sent to Maduro after the failure of negotiations over the Bolivarian failure was used by the ruling party to unleash its anger against him. "An irresponsible lack of respect, believing that the Vatican will protect Venezuela", then accuses Diosdado Cabello, number two of the revolution.

"I would be happy to receive the pope in our country, a very Catholic country, very dedicated, with a great religious tradition," said Guaidó, a 35-year-old politician with deep religious convictions, who is also supported by the first day. , of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela, key to the power architecture of Frente Amplio Venezuela Libre.

"This university is determined to change the country, and this change is synonymous with well-being, progress, dignity, freedom and democracy," said Father José Virtuoso, rector of Andrés Bello Catholic University. (UCAB).

Guaidó also indirectly responded to the pope, claiming that the most dramatic fact was that the bloodshed was continuing. "What engenders this bloodbath and starvation is the maintenance of Maduro's usurpation functions." Francisco claimed a few days ago that he is praying to avoid a bloodbath in Venezuela.

The fierce crackdown on protests from 21 to 24 January has caused the deaths of more than 40 people, according to the United Nations, and the arrest of 988 people, a historic record in the country. Of the almost 1000 arrested, 700 are still deprived of liberty, including 47 students aged 18 to 22, according to the denunciations of the Criminal Forum.

Action

In opposing ranks, the Vatican is asked to act as the twenty EU countries that have already recognized Guaidó as president in charge of Venezuela. The Pope baderts that taking sides at this time "would be a pastoral imprudence on my part and would do harm".

The latest survey, conducted by the Venezuelan Association of Political Advisers, confirms the current state of mind of the citizens: 71.3% have a positive opinion of Guaidó, against 19.7% of those who still have Maduro. This survey draws attention to the fact that the same percentage of respondents (389%) believes that to get out of the crisis, it takes negotiation or otherwise, Maduro leaves power without violence, precisely the scenarios put in place these last hours. . Those who want a military invasion only reach 9.7%.

In an attempt to thwart mbad protests of popular support in the streets of the new opposition leader, become a reference of hope, Chavismo began collecting signatures against the Washington administration.

The goal is to present the world with 10 million signatures of support, which really does not matter. The first denunciations concerning the future constraints to sign the recipients of CLAP food boxes (Bolivarian version of the Cuban ration book) are already the subject of an investigation by civil organizations.

The battle on the outside front

Recognition

More than 40 countries – including the United States and Argentina – have recognized Mr. Guaidó as President of Venezuela; Since he's sworn back as president, Maduro has received strong pressure from the international community to call for free elections.

Dialogue

Uruguay and Mexico chose to remain neutral and called for a dialogue between the opposition and Maduro. seek to move in this direction with the summit that started yesterday in Montevideo

The command

Guaidó appealed to Francisco's help and international diplomacy to set up a transitional government leading to "genuinely free elections"