Maduro does not take his threats and Guaidó makes his triumphant return to Caracas

The president in charge returned home after a tour of the region; He was received by thousands of people and called for new mobilizations. Chavism had promised to stop him

CARACAS

Juan Guaidó

arrived, climbed onto the hood of a vehicle, raised the Venezuelan flag, sung the hymn "Glory to the brave people" and won. The president in charge of

Venezuela

He played in the Creole version of Julio Caesar's sentence when his challenge against Chavez was the weakest, knowing how much he had played.

"Attention, armed force: despite the threats of the usurper regime, I am here, the chain of command is broken," he said a few minutes later in front of the thousands of supporters gathered in the square Caracas of Alfredo sadel.

When, 11 days ago, the Speaker of Parliament crossed the Colombian border after a 40-hour odyssey, he knew that the return would be even more difficult. But he kept his word: he returned to Caracas as he had promised, as any other president does in his country. Another authentic challenge to the all-powerful Chavez revolution.

Face, face, protected by their international allies and supported by their followers although it is carnival Monday, some received it almost secretly at Maiquetía airport and many others have done in the around where they lived. euphoria and emotion. Hundreds of compatriots from Guaidó, native of a nearby parish, have borrowed the highway to force their chief to get on the roof of the vehicle, an image that is already part of the duel that began on January 5th.

The cries of freedom, the liberty, so heard these days in the oil country, re-echo again as a welcome for the deputy. As if all present felt that for their struggle to continue, it must be led by the undisputed leader, almost unknown at the beginning of the year. The figure of Guaidó grew at the same pace as the challenge in a country that, since Simon Bolivar, worshiped the strong figures, who end up turning into myths despite the muddy feet of some of them.

"They threatened us with prison, with death, but it will not be because of the persecution and the threat that will stop us, we are more united and stronger than ever," he said. a protest that has been repeated in almost every state in the country.

It was hours of tension and secrecy in which the Panamanian government facilitated the flight of Guaidó on a Copa flight to Caracas. There, at the airport, 12 diplomatic representatives waited. The border process unfolded without news, despite threats from Maduro and despite the host committee that Diosdado Cabello, the number two of the revolution, would have mounted in the premises of Maiquetia, one of "their" territories.

"In Maiquetía, they told me that they were welcome," said Guaidó, who proudly showed his pbadport to the crowd. This is not surprising: opponents and journalists have been stolen from their documents illegally and arbitrarily in a country where they have renewed their pbadports. It's a real test that can cost over $ 2,000.

The Guaidó plan to take the initiative again after the last mistakes have been made to perfection. Doubts are now on the other side, the president and his lieutenants getting wet with obvious symptoms of weakness in the face of international pressure, very strong in recent hours. The Supreme Court of Justice, pushed by the other revolutionary powers, forbids him to leave the country.

For now, the chavist leadership has decided to keep the game and not to break the match, convinced that the challenge loses vigor over time and that it will dissolve as on other occasions.

The government and its allies (Russia and China) made it clear that they did not want to know anything about elections that would lose more than 50% difference, hence the points of dialogue put forward by Minister Jorge Rodríguez, who are summarized below. in one: the creation of a mechanism to resolve disputes between the government and the opposition.

For the moment, the duel does not wait. Guaidó today called on public sector employee unions to launch an offensive in the bowels of the state bureaucracy. On Saturday, the opposition will return to the streets of the country. And, as always, in the center of his discursive target, the armed forces: "It is not enough to give up, we order them to stop the armed groups that acted on October 23. Being accomplices by omission is also a crime."

To maintain pressure, the opposition leader relies on the connectivity of people facing new types of Chavismo censorship. Yesterday, the government blocked Sound Cloud and Twitter so their messages would not be heard. Later, he darkened the cellular signal at the point of concentration. Several independent electronic media were also silenced when the president returned.

Forty days of tension

January 23

Self-regulation

In front of a multitude of followers, Guaidó autojuramentado, after the Congress declared "usurper" to the president Nicolás Maduro to initiate on January 10 a second unknown mandate of the opposition and several governments, which envisaged their re-election " fraudulent. " The United States recognizes Guaidó. Washington was followed by Canada and several countries in Latin America.

January 26

International pressure

The United States calls on all countries to support Guaidó. Russia and China block an American project to support the opposition parliament. Opponents distribute the text of an amnesty for civil and military officials who do not know Maduro.

January 28

Punishments

The United States punishes the state oil company PDVSA.

January 29

The threat

The Supreme Court of Justice forbids Guaidó to leave the country. 4 February More recognition Twenty European countries recognize Guaidó as "president in charge".

12 February

Publicity

Guaidó announces the entry of humanitarian aid on 23 February.

February 22

Megarrecital

It takes place in Cucuta, organized by the British billionaire Richard Branson.

February 23

riots

Violent clashes on Venezuela's borders with Colombia and Brazil, where armed civilians and civilians have blocked the entrance of aid, killing seven people.

February 28

Tower

Guaidó is part of Colombia touring Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Ecuador.

March 4

Return

In the midst of the regime's threats against Guaidó, the opposition leader easily enters Venezuela through the Maiquetía airport.