In a major move that is currently the nation’s most burning issue, Venezuelan opposition parties are seeking to block Juan Guaido’s interim government from extending its mandate by another year and gain control of boards supervising Citgo Petroleum, the country’s most important asset abroad.
This development was disclosed by spokespeople from the main opposition parties.
It is imperative to note that Guaido who is acting as congress chief and interim president following Nicolas Maduro’s disputed re-election as president, in 2019, appointed the board of Houston-based refiner Citgo, a subsidiary of state oil firm PDVSA.
Reports have it that while Washington still recognizes Guaido as interim leader instead of Maduro, Guaido’s failure to reach a deal with Maduro’s Socialist administration on new elections and his reliance on U.S. sanctions to keep pressure on Maduro have seen him fall out of favor elsewhere in the world and with opposition groups at home.
It was gathered that the embattled Guaido has moved to extend the mandate of his interim government by another year, largely to maintain control over Citgo and other state assets held abroad.
In a swift move, opposition political parties propose instead to create a new commission of parliament-appointed members to govern Venezuela’s foreign assets, including Citgo, and block the one-year extension of Guaido’s government.
According to reports, the proposal put forward is for dissolution of the interim government, save for the ad hoc board of PDVSA Holding – which manages Citgo – as well as the ad hoc board of the central bank, while a commission to watch over other assets would also be created, said opposition politician Alfonso Marquina.
Reports also have it that parties looking to replace Guaido have proposed delegating the functions of the interim government to the new commission.
More so, they may also seek to choose a candidate to compete against Maduro or whoever represents the government in the next election, tentatively scheduled for 2024, reports said.
Speaking at a news conference in Caracas, Marquina said “The United States recognizes the sovereign decisions that are made in Venezuela, so we have no doubt that the relationship (with Washington) will be maintained”.
Marquina also stated that three of Venezuela’s largest opposition parties support the motion, while the fourth – which Guaido belongs to – supports the interim government.
Records have it that since 2015, the government of President Nicolas Maduro has presided over economic catastrophe and the mass exodus of over 7 million Venezuelans since.
However, the opposition remains fractured and has been unable to dislodge Maduro, who retains the support of the armed forces and allies including Russia and China.
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