The United States has stepped up its rhetoric against Venezuela’s Maduro regime by declaring Juan Guaidó as interim president – a move which is also backed by Germany, Brazil and Canada. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Caracas to hail Guaidó as the country’s new leader. But is this really the end for Nicolás Maduro, the man who has led his country into economic ruin? Unlike the protests in the capital in 2017 which were brutally quashed before they could spread elsewhere, these demonstrations are gathering pace all across the country. There are now local reports of members of the national army starting to side with the people.
Maduro has reacted by accusing the opposition of staging a coup, pointing the finger at Washington for meddling in Venezuela’s affairs. Yet it is clear that Guaidó, was a relative unknown until he was sworn in as leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly earlier this month, does enjoy much support.
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