Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 1 February 2020
Venezuela's Guaidó angles for Trump meeting at end of trip

By SCOTT SMITH the democratic struggle
Associated Press enters a new, very difficult,
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) phase." Guaidó emerged
— Venezuelan opposition from the opposition in
leader Juan Guaidó wraps January 2019 to become
up an international tour the first viable challenger
with a rally in Miami on Su- in years to Maduro, the
per Bowl weekend with the hand-chosen successor of
looming question whether the late charismatic leader
the opposition leader can Hugo Chávez. The econo-
score an important meet- my continues to shrink af-
ing with President Donald ter two decades of social-
Trump. ist rule, despite Venezuela
Guaidó's ability to win face holding the world's largest
time with Trump in a sym- oil reserves.
bolically important meet- The political and social cri-
ing will test the young po- sis is driving mass migration
litical leader's standing with as Venezuelans abandon
his most important interna- a country with shortages of
tional ally. reliable water, food, elec-
"If Trump does not meet with tricity, gasoline and medi-
Guaidó, that would raise cal care, among basic
serious questions about the services. Guaidó claimed
administration's continuing presidential powers as lead-
commitment to Venezu- er of the opposition-con-
ela's interim president," said trolled National Assembly,
Michael Shifter, president Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido vowing before cheering
of the Washington-based shake hands before a meeting at Trudeau's Parliament Hill office in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, masses in Caracas' streets
Inter-American Dialogue Jan. 27, 2020. Associated Press to overthrow Maduro and
think tank. "It might well be restore democracy. How-
interpreted that Trump is far unsuccessful campaign to shore up backing from ty at his Mar-a-Lago club ever, his plan hitched on
hedging on Guaidó." to remove President Nico- leaders in Colombia, across — or invited to any other flipping the military's loyalty
With his support down at lás Maduro by defying a Europe and Canada. meetings. from Maduro, something
home, Guaidó launched travel ban and slipping Venezuela has been a top A Trump-Guaidó meeting that hasn't happened.
the second year of his so- out of Venezuela seeking priority in Latin America for is under consideration and Maduro today appears
the Trump administration, would likely take place this emboldened. Armed ci-
which was a year ago the weekend in south Florida, vilian groups loyal to the
first among nearly 60 gov- according to two people, president patrol the streets
ernments to throw their including a senior U.S. offi- on motorcycles, blocking
weight behind Guaidó. U.S. cial. The official and anoth- Guaidó and allied law-
officials called Maduro a er person familiar with the makers from entering their
"dictator," and hit the state- discussions spoke to The legislative hall. Intelligence
run Venezuelan oil firm PD- Associated Press on condi- police occupied Guaidó's
VSA with sanctions among tion of anonymity because office space after he left
other financial measures they weren't authorized to on his foreign tour.
designed to push out the discuss the U.S. president's "The biggest clown ever in
socialist leader. plans. Venezuelan or world poli-
However, Maduro remains Shifter said the lack of tics declared himself as
in control, having faced a Trump-Guaidó session president," Maduro said in
down a coup attempt, a would demoralize the Ven- a celebratory address on
People look at the remains of a bus that crashed in Inca
Chaca, outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. brief renewal of mass anti- ezuelan opposition that the anniversary of Guaidó
Associated Press government protests and has counted on Washing- claim to power. "Who the
hell elected you?"
U.S. sanctions.
ton for unwavering sup-
Bus crash kills 14 At various stops on his in- port. It would also be puz- At the time, Guaidó was in
Europe posing for photos
ternational trip, Guaidó zling to U.S. allies like Co-
people in Bolivia has met with U.S. Secre- lombia and Brazil, which with world leaders includ-
tary of State Mike Pompeo, have worked in concert ing British Prime Minister
U.S. Secretary of Com- with the U.S. in fully backing Boris Johnson, French Presi-
merce Wilbur Ross and Guaidó, he said. dent Emmanuel Macron
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A bus missed a curve on a road White House adviser Ivan- Guaidó has not delivered and German Chancellor
near Bolivia's capital on Friday and plunged down a ka Trump, the president's the change in Venezuela Angela Merkel. In Canada,
ravine, killing at least 15 people and injuring 19 more, daughter, but he hasn't yet that the Trump administra- he met with Prime Minister
officials said. gotten to the U.S. president. tion and the country's op- Justin Trudeau.
Local fire department chief Ismael Villca told Erbol He missed Trump at the position expected, but he is Guaidó wrote an op-ed
radio that the bus was a half hour out of the capital World Economic Forum in still Venezuela's most popu- published Thursday in the
half an hour earlier en route from the northern town of Davos, Switzerland, arriving lar political figure, Shifter Miami Herald saying he
Coripata. a day after the U.S. presi- said. was in the U.S. He thanked
It was the third serious accident of the week in Bolivia. dent left. The two will both "Trump may be frustrated Trump, U.S. lawmakers and
A small bus collided with a cargo truck on Tuesday, be in Florida this weekend, and believe he was mis- their counterparts in Europe
killing 14 people west of La Paz, while a bus and truck but it is unclear whether led on Venezuela," Shifter and throughout the Ameri-
collided on a road to the Uyuni salt flats in southwest- Guaidó is on the guest list said. "But there is little cost cas for all they have done
ern Bolivia, killing three.q
for Trump's Super Bowl par- in meeting with Guaidó as for Venezuela.q