Guaido: Backers ‘failed to follow through’ in abortive uprising

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said that backers who had pledged support for his abortive uprising last week had “failed to follow through” to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro.

But that “doesn’t mean that they won’t do it soon,” Guaido told AFP in an interview in Caracas.

Guaido, recognised as interim president by more than 50 countries, said it was “obvious today, there is widespread discontent from which the armed forces aren’t immune.”

“There have been discussions with civil and military officials who are ready to take the side of our constitution,” he said. “I’m very optimistic given that we are very close to achieving change in Venezuela.”

The 35-year-old National Assembly chief has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial re-election last year, and in January declared himself acting president, plunging Venezuela into a political crisis that deepened its already grave economic woes.

But Maduro has held firm, bolstered by the continued support of the powerful armed forces.

Guaido, however, expressed the hope that the army would eventually come on board.

“We are waiting for many more to join in expressing their discontent and to participate in ‘Operation Freedom,’” he said.

Of those that did, 25 soldiers sought refuge in the Brazilian embassy later in the day.

“Today all that needs to happen is for the armed forces and certain (public sector) employees to overcome their fear,” said Guaido.

Maduro was getting ‘weaker and weaker’ after years of protests against his regime, Guaido said, painting a picture of a leader surrounded by the last vestige of support in his Miraflores presidential palace.

“They say that Maduro is in Miraflores, but they also say that he’s in a bunker with a main security ring composed of Cubans and a second ring made up of soldiers from the Casa Militar,” Guaido said, referring to Venezuela’s elite presidential protection corps.

“He no longer trusts even in his high command, he doesn’t even have any trust in his environment.”

The attempted uprising set off two days of violent clashes between security forces and protesters that left five people dead, dozens injured and more than 233 arrested. — AFP