Venezuelan government strips Guaido of immunity

THE Venezuelan government has stripped populist leader Juan Guaidó, the rival of president Nicolás Maduro, of his parliamentary immunity, opening the door for his possible arrest.

Mr Guaidó, head of the oppositioncontrolled national assembly, declared himself president on Jan 23 and has been recognised as Venezuela’s legitimate leader by more than 50 countries.

Until now, Mr Maduro has given Mr Guaidó a remarkably free rein, unwilling to risk antagonising supporters of the 35-year-old – notably the United States, Colombia and Brazil.

On Tuesday, however, the constituent assembly – a pro-maduro rival parliament to the national assembly – voted unanimously to strip Mr Guaidó of his immunity, on the recommendation of the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Mr Maduro’s allies argued that Mr Guaidó should be prosecuted for violating an order banning him leaving the country while under investigation by the attorney general. He is also accused of inciting violence through street protests and of receiving illicit funds from abroad.

But Mr Guaidó brushed off the threat. “The regime believes that by attacking me, they will stop us,” he told supporters. “There’s no way back in this process.”

Mr Maduro has so far stopped short of detaining Mr Guaidó, but the opposition politician said he knew it was a possibility.

The Trump administration has threatened the Maduro government with a strong response if Mr Guaidó is harmed, and Marco Rubio, the Florida senator, said nations should regard any attempt by Mr Maduro’s government to “abduct” him as a coup.