A senior general recognized Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela and declared that "90% of the armed forces are not with Nicolás Maduro"

Francisco Estéban Yánez Rodríguez, Major General and Director of Strategic Planning for the High Military Command of Aviation, acknowledged Juan Guaidó as president in charge of Venezuela. He is the highest ranking military official to break with the regime and express his support for the National Assembly.

"Today, with a patriotic and democratic pride, I inform you that I do not know the irritating and dictatorial power of Mr. Nicolás Maduroy and I recognize the deputy Juan Guaidó as president in charge. of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, for which I put myself usefully at your service, "he said in a video broadcast on social networks.

In addition, the Major General stated that his position was shared by the vast majority of his comrades. "90% of the armed forces are not with the dictator, they are with the people of Venezuela".

Yanez said the "Democratic colleagues" of the presidential air group had informed him that "the dictator has two planes ready every day" flee in case it is necessary. "Let him go!".

"With the events of the last hours, the transition to democracy is already imminent. To continue to order the armed force to continue to repress our people is to continue to die of hunger, disease and, God forbid, to fight us, "he warned.

Yánez had been appointed chairman of the permanent evaluation committee of the Bolivarian General Aviation Command in 2015. He is stationed at La Carlota Air Base, in the east of Caracas.

"I invite all Venezuelans to peacefully descend on the streets to defend our president Juan Guaidó. I ask my comrades of war not to turn their backs on the Venezuelan people, not to repress"he added.

"A blow to the armed forces"

"It's a blow to the FANB, even if it does not have any command"He said at AFP the expert in military affairs Rocía San Miguel.

Guaidó, who will lead Saturday a demonstration to demand the exit of the power of Maduro, offers amnesty to the army that is trying to break the main support of the government, the armed force.

The dome of the armed forces has repeatedly declared absolute loyalty to the president, but the institution has cracks.

January 21, two days before Guaidó proclaims himself president, 27 National Guard soldiers revolted against Maduroand after being barricaded in a barracks of Caracas, they were arrested.

This rebellion unleashed outbreaks of violence, accompanied by small demonstrations and looting, which left in about a week about 40 dead and 850 people arrested, according to UN information.

The NGO Control Control Ciudadano, headed by San Miguel, believes that Some 180 soldiers were arrested in 2018, accused of conspiracy. About 10,000 members of the armed forces have requested the dismissal of their post since 2015..