In an interview with DW.com, Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaido, says the army now backs a change of government.
Guaido told DW that the military is no longer on the side of President Nicolas Maduro.
DW: You say this is the beginning of the end of Nicolas Maduro’s rule. Which military units now support you?
Juan Guaido: The armed forces no longer back Nicolas Maduro. They are on our side. They are backing the constitution and are for a change of government. The situation we have in Venezuela is a usurpation. There’s been a lot of persecution within the military — not only by Venezuelan but also by the Cuban secret services. It’s obvious that the majority of the population, as well as the international community and the armed forces, no longer support Maduro.
DW: Maduro, whose 2018 reelection has been called undemocratic by the opposition, says dissidents are staging a coup.
Juan Guaido: It is obvious that Maduro’s government is unlawfully usurping political offices; it’s this government that since 2018 has flouted the constitutional state and the constitution, that doesn’t hold free and fair elections and abuses its power. The armed forces have taken an important step by giving us their support.
DW: With factions of the military supporting different ends, is there a risk of bloodshed?
Juan Guaido: We are proceeding peacefully and within the framework of the constitution — we’ve always said this. And we will continue in this way. The ones who have exercised violence are armed paramilitaries, the so-called colectivos. They’re backed by the government. We, and the Venezuelan people who are taking to the streets and protesting, have maintained our nonviolent approach.
