Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido has granted an interview to FRANCE 24. “We’re dealing with a dictatorship here that is malicious and lacks all scruples. But we are a sovereign state and I as acting president of the Republic of Venezuela will use all means at my disposal to put an end to this, to ensure a transition government and hold free elections”, he told Herminia Fernandez.
The 35-year-old opposition lawmaker declared himself Venezuela’s acting president last week on the grounds that Nicolas Maduro fraudulently won a second term in office last year.
France, the United States, and a host of Latin American countries have recognised him as the country’s legitimate leader, however, Maduro still has the key support of the country’s military.
Guaido told FRANCE 24 that he plans to open dialogue with the armed forces to “remind them of the role that they play in our society, in building democracy, in rebuilding our country and in ensuring a transition government”. He added that it was his civic duty to take on the role of acting president, saying that the country “needs me”.
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