- Title: Profile of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido
- Date: 2nd January 2020
- Summary: Opposition leader Juan Guaido on Monday (April 1, 2019) headed to a working-class barrio of Caracas to rally his case against President Nicolas Maduro, amidst public anger over food and water shortages and blackouts in the oil-rich nation. Thousands turned out to see Guaido speak in the San Bernadino neighbourhood. Just as Guaido was to take the stage, tear gas was released. CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - APRIL 1, 2019) (REUTERS) GUAIDO WALKING TO STAGE GUAIDO ON STAGE WITH AUDIENCE CHEERING HIM ON TEAR GAS GOING OFF NEAR RALLY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY TEAR GAS CITIZENS CROUCHED DOWN AFTER BEING AFFECTED BY TEAR GAS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER, JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "A small group of violent people want to instill fear in us. Despite the threats, the TSJ (Supreme Court) and the supposed disqualification, I am here with you all. We are on a clear path to ending the usurpation, for a transition government and free elections." Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas at Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday (April 30, 2019), as he gathered with a group of men in military uniform outside a Caracas air force base. Guaido, speaking from the scene earlier, said he had the support of the troops to begin the "final phase" to end Maduro's presidency. CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - APRIL 30, 2019) (REUTERS) GUAIDO STANDING ON BRIDGE / BEING MOVED AWAY BY SECURITY / CROWD ON BRIDGE TEAR GAS CANISTER ON GROUND/ SOLDIER THROWING CANISTER AWAY SOLDIER THROWING GAS CANISTER OVER BRIDGE GUAIDO GREETING AN OPPOSITION LEGISLATOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER AND SELF-DECLARED INTERIM PRESIDENT, JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "Today, a segment, an important part of the armed forces, not only in Caracas, but in the entire country, has put itself on the side of the Venezuelan constitution. The call is for everyone to come out into the streets at this moment to give backing to what we have built over years. We're here now in the streets, not only with the international community, and not only as citizens, but now with the national armed forces who are backing the citizens, the future, (and) progress. So, it's an important moment for Venezuela," VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN LEOPOLDO LOPEZ NEXT TO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER VENEZUELAN NATIONAL GUARD GATHERED ON HIGHWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION POLITICIAN, LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, SAYING: "This is the moment for all Venezuelans with and without a uniform, everyone out to the streets: police, military, judges, prosecutors, public employees, the Venezuelan people out in the streets in Venezuela and the world; the call is global. The call is for the end of the usurpation at this time, everyone out to the streets in peace like president Guaido has said." TEAR GAS GOING OFF NEAR NATIONAL GUARD NATIONAL GUARD SEEN INSIDE LA CARLOTA MILITARY FACILITY MILITARY VEHICLE FIRING TEAR GAS CANISTERS VENEZUELAN SECURITY FORCES SEEN INSIDE MILITARY FACILITY Venezuela's state prosecutor's office said on Friday (September 13, 2019) it would open an investigation into opposition leader Juan Guaido after the interior minister presented photos on state television showing Guaido in the company of two suspected members of a Colombian drug-trafficking group. CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) GUAIDO SURROUNDED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER AND SELF-DECLARED INTERIM PRESIDENT, JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "I know nobody asks them (Venezuela government) for photographs. I know they don't understand how it works. What I am able to say - as I said today - we didn't ask for their criminal record to take a photo and again - unfortunately - protected by Maduro's regime as they showed. Not only do they (Venezuela government) not have their photo taken because nobody asks them to do this; instead they (Venezuelan government) receive them (FARC rebel dissidents), they invite them to the Sao Paulo meeting, they protect them as they do even in the capital city." GUAIDO SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS AND SUPPORTERS
- Embargoed: 16th January 2020 18:11
- Keywords: Blackout Caracas Colombian Juan Guaido Leopoldo Lopez Nicolas Maduro Tear gas Venezuela Venezuelan president
- Location: CARACAS, LA CARLOTA, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, LA CARLOTA, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA003BUI4PJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: GUAIDO FILE FOOTAGE CONTINUES IN EDIT 8104-VENEZUELA-POLITICS/GUAIDO PROFILE-PART 1
Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido prepares for re-election as National Assembly leader on Sunday (January 5).
Guaido went from a virtual unknown in Venezuelan politics to the country's most-watched figure, assuming the presidency of the opposition-controlled congress and briefly being detained by the secret police.
In January last year, the 35-year-old from the South American country's hardscrabble Caribbean coast thrust himself onto the international stage with the boldest challenge to socialist President Nicolas Maduro's rule in years: he declared himself interim president, a move swiftly recognised by the United States, Canada and many Latin American countries.
His rapid ascent has raised hopes that he could fill a leadership vacuum in Venezuela's notoriously divided opposition, which has failed in several attempts to oust Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez. Many of its most prominent figures have been jailed, exiled or barred from seeking public office.
The salsa-loving baseball fan has animated the opposition's upper-class base and won over many working-class Venezuelans fed up with the country's hyperinflationary economic collapse, who have taken to the streets demanding Maduro step down.
Yet Guaido still needs the backing of the armed forces to achieve his goals.
He has proposed an amnesty for members of the military, but said members of the Maduro government who committed human rights violations should be punished.
Guaido took the helm of the National Assembly on January 5, 2019 with a call for the armed forces to recognise Maduro as a "usurper" after his May 2018 re-election vote, widely viewed as fraudulent.
The eldest of six children from a working-class family in the coastal state of Vargas, Guaido survived a devastating 1999 mudslide that posed one of the earliest tests to Chavez's 14-year rule.
He went on to study engineering, but became involved in politics while in college and studied political management at George Washington University in the United States. He is married with a young daughter.
Representing Vargas for Popular Will, Guaido assumed the parliament's leadership as part of a power-sharing agreement between Venezuela's main opposition parties. He has said little about what policies he would pursue as president, but Popular Will describe themselves as centre-left social democrats.
Guaido was dragged out of his car on the highway and detained by intelligence agents on January 14, 2019 but was swiftly released.
Government officials said the officers responsible would be punished.
Guaido has said he is not afraid of being arrested, boosting his popularity among Venezuelans tired with Maduro. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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