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| Venezuela: Guaidó supporters descend on military base in new bid to oust Maduro | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela’s political crisis has lurched into a potentially historic and violent new phase as an attempted military uprising erupted at the heart of its capital, Caracas, and opposition leader Juan Guaidó urged supporters to take to the streets to force his rival Nicolás Maduro from power. | Venezuela’s political crisis has lurched into a potentially historic and violent new phase as an attempted military uprising erupted at the heart of its capital, Caracas, and opposition leader Juan Guaidó urged supporters to take to the streets to force his rival Nicolás Maduro from power. |
| A day of high drama and profound uncertainty began shortly before dawn on Tuesday when Guaidó – who has been spearheading a three-month campaign to topple Maduro – posted an online video in which he appeared surrounded by dozens of armed troops near a key military installation in Caracas. | A day of high drama and profound uncertainty began shortly before dawn on Tuesday when Guaidó – who has been spearheading a three-month campaign to topple Maduro – posted an online video in which he appeared surrounded by dozens of armed troops near a key military installation in Caracas. |
| Venezuela opposition leader claims coup is under way – live news | Venezuela opposition leader claims coup is under way – live news |
| “The time is now,” Guaidó said outside the La Carlota airbase, claiming the end was nigh for Maduro’s embattled regime. “We are going to achieve freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” Guaidó added, urging supporters to take to the streets. | “The time is now,” Guaidó said outside the La Carlota airbase, claiming the end was nigh for Maduro’s embattled regime. “We are going to achieve freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” Guaidó added, urging supporters to take to the streets. |
| Heeding those calls, hundreds of supporters began to flock to the airbase, where troops loyal to Maduro reportedly fired teargas from inside in an attempt to contain the demonstrators. A brief exchange of gunfire followed, but there were no injuries reported. | |
| Maduro said that he had spoken with military commanders who had shown him "total loyalty.” | |
| “Nerves of steel!,” he tweeted. “I call for maximum popular mobilization to assure the victory of peace. We will win!” | |
| Senior officials took to the airwaves to insist the uprising would fail. | |
| Tarek William Saab, the attorney general, condemned what he called a “shameful and buffoonish spectacle” and Guaidó’s “grotesque attempt” to seize power. | |
| Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s second in command, claimed Venezuela was in a state of “absolute calm” but called on supporters to gather at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas “to defend the revolution, to defend Nicolas and to defend the legacy of Hugo Chavez”. | |
| “We will prevail. And they will be treated like a bunch of coup-mongers,” Cabello insisted. | |
| Venezuela’s information minister Jorge Rodríguez claimed “the coup-mongering, murderous far right” was responsible for the uprising and called on citizens to stand with Venezuela’s “glorious” armed forces as they sought to “deactivate” it. | Venezuela’s information minister Jorge Rodríguez claimed “the coup-mongering, murderous far right” was responsible for the uprising and called on citizens to stand with Venezuela’s “glorious” armed forces as they sought to “deactivate” it. |
| But there were signs that the rebellion was spreading across the country, with reports of pro-opposition protests in major cities including Valencia, Puerto Ordaz, Barquisimeto as well as Caracas itself. | But there were signs that the rebellion was spreading across the country, with reports of pro-opposition protests in major cities including Valencia, Puerto Ordaz, Barquisimeto as well as Caracas itself. |
| As she took to the streets with Venezuela’s tricolor flag draped over her shoulders, Mariana Otero, a 32-year-old housewife, called on members of Venezuela’s diaspora to return home to watch what she called the liberation of their country. | As she took to the streets with Venezuela’s tricolor flag draped over her shoulders, Mariana Otero, a 32-year-old housewife, called on members of Venezuela’s diaspora to return home to watch what she called the liberation of their country. |
| “We will see each other in a free Venezuela – the Venezuela that we all want,” she said. | “We will see each other in a free Venezuela – the Venezuela that we all want,” she said. |
| “I’m holding my breath,” said Gabriela Montero, a Venezuelan pianist who posted an upbeat rendition of a famous Venezuelan song on Twitter to celebrate the day’s events. “I’m feeling excited, I’m crying, I’m worried. Full of expectation.” | “I’m holding my breath,” said Gabriela Montero, a Venezuelan pianist who posted an upbeat rendition of a famous Venezuelan song on Twitter to celebrate the day’s events. “I’m feeling excited, I’m crying, I’m worried. Full of expectation.” |
| Opposition leaders hailed what they claimed was the beginning of the end for Maduro. “Venezuela onto the streets! It is time to conquer our freedom,” tweeted María Corina Machado. | Opposition leaders hailed what they claimed was the beginning of the end for Maduro. “Venezuela onto the streets! It is time to conquer our freedom,” tweeted María Corina Machado. |
| Guaidó was accompanied by his political mentor Leopoldo López, who told reporters: “Today the people are very clear that things need to change.” | Guaidó was accompanied by his political mentor Leopoldo López, who told reporters: “Today the people are very clear that things need to change.” |
| “The people and the armed forces are going to achieve an end to the usurpation, a transition government and free elections,” López added. | “The people and the armed forces are going to achieve an end to the usurpation, a transition government and free elections,” López added. |
| López has been under house arrest since 2017, but his wife, Lilian Tintori, told the Guardian that her husband had been released “to free Venezuela alongside Guaidó”. | López has been under house arrest since 2017, but his wife, Lilian Tintori, told the Guardian that her husband had been released “to free Venezuela alongside Guaidó”. |
| Venezuela’s long-running political crisis erupted in January after Guaidó, the young head of its opposition-run parliament, proclaimed himself the country’s rightful interim leader, arguing that Maduro had stolen last year’s election and “usurped” power. | Venezuela’s long-running political crisis erupted in January after Guaidó, the young head of its opposition-run parliament, proclaimed himself the country’s rightful interim leader, arguing that Maduro had stolen last year’s election and “usurped” power. |
| The opposition leader Juan Guaidó was almost unknown both inside and outside Venezuela until the start of this year. | The opposition leader Juan Guaidó was almost unknown both inside and outside Venezuela until the start of this year. |
| Guaidó was made chairman of the national assembly in January because it was the turn of his party, Voluntad Popular (People’s Will). At 35, he was a junior member of his party but its leaders were either under house arrest, in hiding or in exile. | Guaidó was made chairman of the national assembly in January because it was the turn of his party, Voluntad Popular (People’s Will). At 35, he was a junior member of his party but its leaders were either under house arrest, in hiding or in exile. |
| He declared himself "interim president" that month, resting his claim on a clause in the constitution that allows the legislature to take power temporarily and call new elections if it deems the president to be failing to fulfil basic duties or to have vacated the post. | He declared himself "interim president" that month, resting his claim on a clause in the constitution that allows the legislature to take power temporarily and call new elections if it deems the president to be failing to fulfil basic duties or to have vacated the post. |
| Guaidó's relative obscurity initially proved an advantage in a country where the opposition has generally failed to distinguish itself, losing its nerve at critical moments, succumbing to infighting, and getting involved in a failed coup against Hugo Chávez in 2002. | Guaidó's relative obscurity initially proved an advantage in a country where the opposition has generally failed to distinguish itself, losing its nerve at critical moments, succumbing to infighting, and getting involved in a failed coup against Hugo Chávez in 2002. |
| He inspired a huge wave of protests inside Venezuela with a message of peaceful change, and won widespread international support. Countries from Europe to the US and regional powers recognised him as Venezuela's legitimate president, handing him control of bank accounts and Venezuelan assets along with the formal recognition. | He inspired a huge wave of protests inside Venezuela with a message of peaceful change, and won widespread international support. Countries from Europe to the US and regional powers recognised him as Venezuela's legitimate president, handing him control of bank accounts and Venezuelan assets along with the formal recognition. |
| As months dragged on however, Guaidó's hope of winning a wave of military defections that would end the rule of Nicolás Maduro seemed to fade, leaving his movement in an uneasy limbo - self-declared president but with no power. | As months dragged on however, Guaidó's hope of winning a wave of military defections that would end the rule of Nicolás Maduro seemed to fade, leaving his movement in an uneasy limbo - self-declared president but with no power. |
| He raised concerns inside Venezuela and internationally when he appeared to hint at the possibility of military intervention after a failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country in February. | He raised concerns inside Venezuela and internationally when he appeared to hint at the possibility of military intervention after a failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country in February. |
| Questions have also been raised about the bedfellows Guaidó has chosen in what he calls his bid to rescue Venezuela. His main international backer is Donald Trump. | Questions have also been raised about the bedfellows Guaidó has chosen in what he calls his bid to rescue Venezuela. His main international backer is Donald Trump. |
| Another key regional supporter is Brazil’s far-right firebrand president, Jair Bolsonaro, known for his hostility to human rights and his fondness for dictatorship. Despite these characteristics, Guaidó has praised what he called Bolsonaro’s “commitment to and for democracy [and] human rights”. | Another key regional supporter is Brazil’s far-right firebrand president, Jair Bolsonaro, known for his hostility to human rights and his fondness for dictatorship. Despite these characteristics, Guaidó has praised what he called Bolsonaro’s “commitment to and for democracy [and] human rights”. |
| Dozens of western governments – including the United States – swung behind Guaidó’s bid to unseat Maduro and it initially looked like Maduro’s downfall was imminent. | Dozens of western governments – including the United States – swung behind Guaidó’s bid to unseat Maduro and it initially looked like Maduro’s downfall was imminent. |
| But in recent weeks, Guaidó’s challenge had appeared to die down although major protests were planned for this Wednesday as part of what Guaidó calls “Operation Freedom”. | But in recent weeks, Guaidó’s challenge had appeared to die down although major protests were planned for this Wednesday as part of what Guaidó calls “Operation Freedom”. |
| That impasse ended on Tuesday morning. | That impasse ended on Tuesday morning. |
| “I hope today is the beginning of the end … of Maduro’s criminal organization and I hope today is the beginning of our freedom,” said Montero, the Venezuelan pianist. | “I hope today is the beginning of the end … of Maduro’s criminal organization and I hope today is the beginning of our freedom,” said Montero, the Venezuelan pianist. |
| “I hope that Venezuelans come together knowing that like any birth it will be painful – but it is necessary.” | “I hope that Venezuelans come together knowing that like any birth it will be painful – but it is necessary.” |
| There was no immediate comment from Guaidó’s main international backer, Donald Trump. | There was no immediate comment from Guaidó’s main international backer, Donald Trump. |
| But the US president’s national security adviser, John Bolton, called on Venezuela’s armed forces (known in Spanish by the initials FANB) to back Guaidó. “The FANB must protect the constitution and the Venezuelan people. It should stand by the national assembly and the legitimate institutions against the usurpation of democracy. The United States stands with the people of Venezuela,” he tweeted. | But the US president’s national security adviser, John Bolton, called on Venezuela’s armed forces (known in Spanish by the initials FANB) to back Guaidó. “The FANB must protect the constitution and the Venezuelan people. It should stand by the national assembly and the legitimate institutions against the usurpation of democracy. The United States stands with the people of Venezuela,” he tweeted. |
| The Republican senator Marco Rubio, who has been a vocal supporter of attempts to topple Maduro, also tweeted his support: “After years of suffering freedom is waiting for people of #Venezuela. Do not let them take this opportunity from you.” | The Republican senator Marco Rubio, who has been a vocal supporter of attempts to topple Maduro, also tweeted his support: “After years of suffering freedom is waiting for people of #Venezuela. Do not let them take this opportunity from you.” |
| Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been an outspoken supporter of Guaidó’s campaign to topple Maduro, and Tuesday his foreign minister, Ernesto Araujo, said that Brazil expects Venezuela’s military to get behind Guaidó and push Maduro out of power. | Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been an outspoken supporter of Guaidó’s campaign to topple Maduro, and Tuesday his foreign minister, Ernesto Araujo, said that Brazil expects Venezuela’s military to get behind Guaidó and push Maduro out of power. |
| But Maduro’s allies in the region expressed support for the embattled leader. | |
| Evo Morales urged Latin American governments “to condemn the coup d’etat in Venezuela and keep the violence from claiming innocent lives.” | Evo Morales urged Latin American governments “to condemn the coup d’etat in Venezuela and keep the violence from claiming innocent lives.” |
| The Bolivian president blamed the US for “provoking violence and death in Venezuela.” | The Bolivian president blamed the US for “provoking violence and death in Venezuela.” |
| Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez said that the island nation was offering “firm support and to Nicolás Maduro, the consitutional president of our sister nation and to his chavista and Bolivarian government. Let there be an end to the assaults on peace in [Latin] America.” | |
| Venezuela’s current plight can be traced to a revolution that went terribly wrong. | Venezuela’s current plight can be traced to a revolution that went terribly wrong. |
| When Hugo Chávez, a former military officer, was elected president in 1998, he inherited a middle-income country plagued by deep inequality. Chávez had led an abortive coup attempt in 1992 and after winning power through the ballot box he set about transforming society. Chávez drove through a wide range of social reforms as part of his Bolivarian revolution, financed with the help of high oil profits – but he also bypassed parliament with a new constitution in 1999. | When Hugo Chávez, a former military officer, was elected president in 1998, he inherited a middle-income country plagued by deep inequality. Chávez had led an abortive coup attempt in 1992 and after winning power through the ballot box he set about transforming society. Chávez drove through a wide range of social reforms as part of his Bolivarian revolution, financed with the help of high oil profits – but he also bypassed parliament with a new constitution in 1999. |
| The muzzling of parliamentary democracy – and the spread of corruption and mismanagement in state-run enterprises – intensified after 2010 amid falling oil prices. Chávez’s “economic war” against shortages led to hyperinflation and the collapse of private sector industry. The implosion in the economy between 2013 and 2017 was worse than the US in the Great Depression. | The muzzling of parliamentary democracy – and the spread of corruption and mismanagement in state-run enterprises – intensified after 2010 amid falling oil prices. Chávez’s “economic war” against shortages led to hyperinflation and the collapse of private sector industry. The implosion in the economy between 2013 and 2017 was worse than the US in the Great Depression. |
| In an attempt to stabilise the economy and control prices of essential goods, Chávez introduced strict controls on foreign currency exchange, but the mechanism soon became a tool for corruption. | In an attempt to stabilise the economy and control prices of essential goods, Chávez introduced strict controls on foreign currency exchange, but the mechanism soon became a tool for corruption. |
| When Chávez died of cancer, his place was taken by his foreign minister, Nicolás Maduro, who has intensified his mentor’s approach of responding to the economic downward spiral by concentrating power, ruling by decree and political repression. | When Chávez died of cancer, his place was taken by his foreign minister, Nicolás Maduro, who has intensified his mentor’s approach of responding to the economic downward spiral by concentrating power, ruling by decree and political repression. |
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