ANALYSIS: How Guaidó Acquired Legitimacy as Acting President of Venezuela | World

Unprecedented and possibly final demonstration of stifling the dictatorship once ruined by Nicolás Maduro: the Treasury Department froze $ 7 billion in PDVSA badets and announced the transfer of control of the accounts of Venezuelan government in US territory to the president of the legislature.

To give you an idea of ​​what this measure means, the United States is the largest importer of Venezuelan oil and absorbs 30% of its annual production, which corresponds to 409,000 barrels a year. Guaidó filed a lawsuit at the National Assembly to exchange the directors of PDVSA and Citgo, the subsidiary of the American oil company.

But that's not that the penalty at Maduro government that legitimates Guaidó before the Trump government. Dissidents who fled the country not to be arrested occupy essential positions abroad.

The Venezuelan interlocutor in Washington becomes the opponent Carlos Vecchio, coordinator of the party of the popular will, identical to that of Leopoldo López. Exiled in the United States four years ago, he was appointed by the President of the National Assembly and immediately supported by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Similarly, the opposition leader already has his representative – diplomat Gustavo Tarre Briceno – at the OAS, who has often threatened Venezuela to expel him in vain. Thus, under the command of Guaidó, the National Assembly, with the majority of the opposition, tries to resume its role, having been emptied by the regime with the establishment of a Constituent Assembly.

From the outside, there are desertions in the Chavist ranks. First, Supreme Court Justice Christian Zerpa, who escaped to Washington on the eve of Maduro's inauguration. Over the weekend, military aide José Luis Silva in Washington aligned with Guaido. Scarlet Salazar, vice-consul of Venezuela in Miami, recognized him as acting president and called on other Venezuelan diplomats abroad to follow in his footsteps.

Maduro knows how much he should lose if he sues Guaidó or tries to stop him, as he had previously done with Henrique Capriles, Leopoldo López and Manuel Rosales. Times are different, the opposition is unified around the president of the National Assembly. He tries to save time and says that he is ready to negotiate. The new US sanctions hit the heart of the regime, an ultimatum from European countries leaves Maduro until Saturday to call new elections, and another day of protests is scheduled for Wednesday.