- Title: "Maduro is not in charge". Guaido hits out at Venezuelan government
- Date: 17th September 2019
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDO WALKING UP TO FRONT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAWMAKERS DURING ASSEMBLY SESSION GUAIDO STANDING UP AT FRONT OF ASSEMBLY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "(President Nicolas) Maduro was made to look ridiculous. Listen up, I am addressing (Defence Minister Vladimir) Padrino because it's obvious Maduro is no longer in charge. It's clear he doesn't have any power. Yesterday, he sent his representatives to sign an alleged agreement with people, which is never fulfilled. Who sabotaged it, (dialogue), was it (Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado) Cabello? That's the information we have. I am addressing Vladimir Padrino, I am addressing Cabello because Maduro is visibly not in charge. Maybe that's why he (Maduro) left in a hurry from Barbados, he left in a hurry because he can't make decisions, because the government can't make decisions. On the contrary, here with have the National Assembly, that not only can make legitimate and sovereign decisions but is recognised by the whole world as those who represent the people of Venezuela to solve the crisis, the legal backing and the representation of the people of Venezuela." EMPTY SEATS THAT SHOULD BE OCCUPIED BY MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "This proposal is not only backed by us by the way and if the regime wanted to distract (attention) from this central proposal which they abandoned (dialogue), they left in a hurry. Early this morning, the European Union let them go. I appreciate the immediate reaction by the European Union which exclusively and uniquely recognises this Assembly. As they said in their statement (EU), anything else is just pure fabrication. That's what the European Union and of course our allies have said." LAWMAKERS CASTING VOTE WITH SHOW OF HANDS GUAIDO AT END OF SESSION AND WALKING WITH LAWMAKERS
- Embargoed: 1st October 2019 21:53
- Keywords: opposition leader Juan Guaido President Nicolas Maduro Venezuela Caracas National Assembly dialogue
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX1SCP3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido hit out at the Maduro government on Tuesday (September 17) over failed talks, saying Maduro does not have the power to take decisions.
On Sunday (September 15), Guaido said dialogue mediated by Norway to try to resolve a political crisis had ended, six weeks after President Nicolas Maduro's government suspended participation.
Guaido told lawmakers in the opposition-majority National Assembly that Maduro abandoned the talks because he lacks authority.
The talks, most of which took place in Barbados, began after opposition leader Juan Guaido led a failed military uprising in April against Maduro, who is accused of rights violations and has overseen an economic collapse prompting millions to flee.
Maduro's representatives walked away from the table in August to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's tightening of sanctions on the OPEC nation. Critics of the dialogue within Venezuela's opposition coalition argued Maduro was negotiating in bad faith and using the talks to buy time.
Guaido, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, invoked Venezuela's constitution in January to assume an interim presidency, arguing Maduro's 2018 re-election was illegitimate. He has been recognised as Venezuela's rightful leader by dozens of countries, including the United States.
But Maduro, who calls Guaido a coup-mongering U.S. puppet, has held on to power despite a deepening economic slowdown and growing international isolation. The military has not abandoned him despite repeated calls by the opposition to do so, and he retains the support of Russia and China.
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