OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:42 AM PT — Thursday, January 31, 2019
Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaido is citing the country’s constitution for the basis of assuming the presidency.
In a New York Times op-ed published Wednesday, Guaido called for unity and also gave his legal argument for challenging Nicolas Maduro. He claimed Venezuela’s last presidential elections were illegal, and Maduro’s term was supposed to end on January 10, 2019 when he was sworn in for a second term.
Guaido also said under the constitution, authority would be handed over to the president of the National Assembly.
Opposition National Assembly President Juan Guaido takes part in a walkout against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. The 35-year-lawmaker has transformed from a little-known opposition figure into a commanding force in the nation’s politics with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump and two dozen other nations recognizing him as Venezuela’s interim president. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
“We want humanitarian help from other countries, so that we can save lives that are being lost unjustly because of this regime,” said Venezuelan protester Patricia Davila.
In the meantime, Colombia has placed a travel ban on officials who remain loyal to Maduro, including the vice president and Maduro himself.
