Strong opposition in Venezuela disrupt its relation with the US

Caracas, Jan 24: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro responded furiously by cutting diplomatic ties with the United States. He gave American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, ordering them out with a derisive “be gone!”

President of Venezuela faced the most direct challenge to his hold on power on Wednesday, when an opposition leader stood in the streets of the capital and declared himself the legitimate president, cheered on by thousands of supporters and a growing number of governments, including the Trump administration.

The 35-year-old opposition leader swore himself in as Venezuela’s interim president. He said, “ I swear to formally assume of the national executive as the President incharge of Venezuela.” He mobilised thousands of supporters and won the backing of powerful ally, the Trump administration.

The country has been reeling in political repression, economic mismanagement and corruption. “The relationship between Venezuela and its state today is one of terror,” Mr. Guaido said in an interview. “When this happens, the voices and hopes of the world, their messages, are the encouragement for the daily struggle to resist — to dream of democracy, and for a better country.”

Conditions in Venezuela have deteriorated to a point where the opposition — gutted by the jailing and exiling of many of its leaders and discredited after several failed efforts to oust President Nicolas Maduro — is seeing an opportunity. Leading them is a virtually unheard-of 35-year-old, Juan Guaido.