Guaidó lobbied Maduro with the arrival of humanitarian aid and the European ultimatum

The self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, announced Sunday that he would ask the European Union (EU) for humanitarian aid and the protection of Venezuelan badets, a few hours after the European ultimatum to President Nicolás Maduro to accept " free elections ". "We will exercise our powers to face the crisis, restore democracy and gain freedom," the 35-year-old parliamentary speaker also wrote to the opposition majority on Twitter.

At midnight this Sunday expires the ultimatum given by France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal and HollandIf Maduro does not comply, they will recognize their opponent, as did the United States and a dozen other countries. The French Minister of European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, warned that if Maduro did not accept the presidential election on Sunday, Mr Guaidó would be considered interim president "until the legitimate elections". Austria has also joined the ultimatum.

The political conflict is taking place in the midst of a serious economic crisis, characterized by hyperinflation and a shortage of food and medicine, which has driven the exodus of some 2.3 million Venezuelans since 2015, according to l & # 39; UN.

The opponent will eventually announce Sunday night the date of arrival of humanitarian aid in the country, challenging Maduro, who sees this initiative as the door of a US military intervention. In front of a crowd that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Chavez revolution on Saturday, Maduro called the opponents "beggars of imperialism" because the US offered an initial $ 20 million in food and cash. drugs.

According to Guaidó, a "national and international coalition" will be created with three drug and food collection centers in neighboring Colombia and Brazil, as well as on a Caribbean island, and mobilization will be requested for the army to demand to this help to enter the country. To your wishes, The United States has already "mobilized and transported humanitarian aid" for Venezuelasaid Saturday the US Councilor for National Security, John Bolton.

The oil company PDVSA is in default and its production is in free fall, strangled by US sanctions that will hinder the purchase of Venezuelan oil from April 28.

In an attempt to put an end to Guaidó's attack, Maduro said Saturday he subscribed to the proposal that the ruling Constituent Assembly should advance from 2020 to this year's legislative power, betting that the opposition would lose the only power that she controls. However, his main support, the armed forces are beginning to show cracks. Saturday, the General Francisco Yánez, of the military aviation, ignored Maduro, becoming the highest military officer who recognizes Guaidó. Bolton asked the uniforms to follow "the direction of General Yánez".

On Saturday night, another retired general followed, while Guaidó offered amnesty to soldiers who were trying to overthrow the armed forces on his behalf. "I'm sure many soldiers will repeat it very soon," he said referring to the rebel general. "They want to deliver the country in pieces to the gringo empire and local oligarchies (…) I call you to maximum cohesion", Maduro harangued the soldiers during military exercises, in front of which the Military expert Rocío San Miguel, quoted by the AFP Agency, said that the officers' statements anticipate "the confrontation that is announced within the armed forces against Maduro".

S.D.