Congress leader ready to replace Maduro

The head of Venezuela’s opposition-run congress says he is prepared to step into the nation’s presidency temporarily to replace Nicolas Maduro, whose inauguration has been rejected as illegitimate by most countries in the Western hemisphere.

National Assembly President Juan Guaido made the statement to an energised crowd blocking a busy street in the capital Caracas yesterday, a day after Maduro’s inauguration to a second term.

But Guaido said he would need support from the public, the armed forces and the international community before trying to form a transitional government to hold new elections to replace Maduro.

‘‘The constitution gives me the legitimacy to carry out the charge of the presidency over the country to call elections,’’ he said. ‘‘But I need backing from the citizens to make it a reality.’’

The head of the Organisation of American States, SecretaryGeneral Luis Almagro, wasn’t waiting. He sent out a tweet recognising Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.

Reiterating the United States’ position that the May election that gave Maduro a second term was ‘‘not free, fair or credible’’, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said ‘‘we support the courageous decision’’ of Guaido’s declaration.

Guaido asked Venezuelans to mass in a nationwide demonstration on January 23, a historically important date for Venezuelans – the day when a mass uprising overthrew dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez in 1958.

The constitution assigns the presidency to the head of the National Assembly if Maduro’s claim is illegitimate. But the military so far has remained firmly behind Maduro.

Venezuela, a once wealthy oilrich nation, is gripped by a growing crisis of relentless inflation, food shortages and mass migration.

AP Juan Guaido, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, tells a street rally in Caracas that with the nation’s backing, he is ready to take on Nicolas Maduro’s presidential powers and call new elections.