Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and his supporters are blocked from country’s congress

Venezuela’s opposition denounced a ‘parliamentary coup’ on Sunday after its leader Juan Guaido was prevented from entering the National Assembly by police while a rival tried to take his role as speaker. 

Guaido led a small group of lawmakers trying to access the palace where the opposition-controlled National Assembly was set to elect a new speaker, when they were pushed back by national guardsmen wielding heavy riot shields. 

He had been expected to be re-elected parliament speaker in a vote on Sunday but only regime lawmakers and opposition deputies critical of Guaido were allowed to enter the building. 

As scuffles broke out, the US-backed leader tried to mount an iron fence surrounding the legislature, only to be repelled again.

Luis Parra – backed by legislators loyal to socialist President Nicolas Maduro  declared himself speaker in a controversial move inside the National Assembly. 

President Maduro later declared his support for Para. 

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, tries to climb the fence to enter the compound of the Assembly, after he and other opposition lawmakers were blocked by police from entering a session to elect new Assembly leadership

With Guaido and his allies stuck outside, a rival slate headed by lawmaker Luis Parra swore themselves in as leaders of the single-chamber legislature

With Guaido and his allies stuck outside, a rival slate headed by lawmaker Luis Parra swore themselves in as leaders of the single-chamber legislature

Opposition lawmaker William Barrientos stands on a desk to argue with ruling party lawmakers after many of his allies, including Assembly President Juan Guaidó, were blocked by police from entering the session to elect new leadership

Opposition lawmaker William Barrientos stands on a desk to argue with ruling party lawmakers after many of his allies, including Assembly President Juan Guaidó, were blocked by police from entering the session to elect new leadership

Colombia’s foreign office described Sunday’s vote as ‘fraudulent, without transparency or guarantees’ and said it wouldn’t recognize it.

US senator for Florida Marco Rubio called it a ‘sham,’ while US State Department official Michael Kozak described it as ‘a farce.’

Lacking quorum, there was no valid vote for Parra, the opposition said.

Guaido, who despite some defections still enjoys a comfortable majority in the 167-seat assembly, immediately denounced the impromptu session as little more than a ‘show’ carried out by a group of ‘traitors’ in cahoots with Maduro.

‘This is nothing more than another blow to our constitution,’ said Guaidó, whose blue suit was ripped during the chaotic standoff.

Still, senior Maduro officials celebrated the bizarre gambit as a comeuppance for the 36-year-old lawmaker, who has been struggling to maintain unity in the unwieldy opposition coalition.

Meanwhile, Parra, exercising his would-be authority, called a session for Tuesday, raising the possibility of rival claims to the legislature’s leadership in the days ahead. A year ago, Guaidó asserted at a street demonstration that he was Venezuela’s interim president in place of the ‘usurper’ Maduro, whose 2018 re-election has been rejected by the U.S., European Union and several Latin American governments.

There was no indication of weakening support among the more than 50 governments that back recognize Guaidó as Venezuela’s rightful leader. Brazil’s government called the session an ‘affront to democracy,’ while the top-ranking U.S. diplomat in Latin America called Sunday’s events in the chamber a ‘farce.’

‘This morning´s phony National Assembly session lacked a legal quorum. There was no vote,’ Assistant Secretary of State Michael Kozak said on Twitter.

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela's opposition leader, tries to climb the fence past National Guards to enter the compound of the Assembly, after he and other opposition lawmakers were blocked by police from entering a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. With Guaido stuck outside, a rival slate headed by lawmaker Luis Parra swore themselves in as leaders of the single-chamber legislature. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, tries to climb the fence past National Guards to enter the compound of the Assembly, after he and other opposition lawmakers were blocked by police from entering a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. With Guaido stuck outside, a rival slate headed by lawmaker Luis Parra swore themselves in as leaders of the single-chamber legislature. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Guaidó said lawmakers would gather later Sunday at the headquarters of El Nacional – the country’s last major opposition newspaper – where they are expected to ratify their support for him.

Guaidó faced a major test in uniting articulating a new vision Sunday in his year-long campaign to remove Maduro. But his re-election for a second straight year as head of congress – the source of his legitimacy in the eyes of many in the world – had been widely expected.

The weeks leading up to Sunday’s vote were marked by tension, with the opposition denouncing a covert government campaign to intimidate and bribe lawmakers into voting against Guaidó.

Parra is one of a small handful of lawmakers who recently broke with Guaidó and have since been expelled from their parties for alleged involvement in a corruption scandal involving allies of Maduro.

Socialist lawmakers argued that Guaido’s absence forced them to initiate their session without him. But all day, opposition lawmakers faced resistance by security forces who set up several barricades downtown.

At one checkpoint, security forces demanded that each lawmaker present their credentials, arguing they were under orders to deny entry to several lawmakers banned from carrying out their duties by the loyalist supreme court.

‘Is your family in Venezuela?’ Guaidó asked the young police officers, who stood firmly in nervous silence.

‘Today you´re complicit with the dictatorship, you´re complicit with those who are responsible for the hunger inside Venezuela,’ he added.

Support for Guaidó inside the opposition has taken a hit after several minority parties in November splintered off to create a separate bloc to negotiate directly with Maduro – something that Guaidó has refused, arguing that talks are simply a time-buying exercise aimed at keeping Maduro in power.

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela's opposition leader, argues with police as he and other lawmakers are stopped a few blocks from the Assembly where he is to lead the session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Amid bouts of shoving and political sloganeering, security forces demanded that each lawmaker present their credentials, arguing they were under orders to deny entry to several lawmakers banned from carrying out their duties by the loyalist supreme court. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, argues with police as he and other lawmakers are stopped a few blocks from the Assembly where he is to lead the session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Amid bouts of shoving and political sloganeering, security forces demanded that each lawmaker present their credentials, arguing they were under orders to deny entry to several lawmakers banned from carrying out their duties by the loyalist supreme court. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

Pro-government lawmakers hold up their fists and shout that Chavez lives, referring to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, seen in the image at right, as the session to elect new leadership is delayed due to some opposition lawmakers being blocked from entering the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Pro-government lawmakers hold up their fists and shout that Chavez lives, referring to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, seen in the image at right, as the session to elect new leadership is delayed due to some opposition lawmakers being blocked from entering the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

The small group of opposition lawmakers who broke with Guaidó argue that in stubbornly sticking to a naive plan of removing Maduro by force, he has put his political ambitions above the needs of Venezuelans who have largely tuned out from the political fight while enduring an economy in shambles and under stiff U.S. sanctions.

‘In 2019 you represented the hopes of the nation, but today you’re its biggest deception,’ said José Brito, one of the lawmakers who turned against Guaidó amid accusations they used their position to enrich themselves and do the bidding of Maduro.

Guaidó declared presidential powers over Venezuela on Jan. 23, 2019, saying Maduro’s reelection was illegitimate because the most popular opposition parties and political leaders had been disqualified from running.

Venezuela sits atop vast oil and mineral resources, but it has been imploding economically and socially in recent years. Critics blame the plunge on years of failed socialist rule and corruption, while Maduro’s allies say U.S. sanctions are taking a toll on the economy. The South American nation’s 30 million people suffer soaring inflation and shortages of gasoline, running water and electricity, among basic services.

An estimated 4.5 million Venezuelans have abandoned their nation in an exodus rivaling war-torn Syria.

Lawmaker José Brito speaks to the press outside the National Assembly where opposition leader Juan Guaido is to lead a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. "In 2019 you represented the hopes of the nation, but today you're its biggest deception," said Brito, one of a handful of lawmakers who have betrayed Guaido amid accusations they used their position to enrich themselves and do the bidding of Maduro and his allies. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

Lawmaker José Brito speaks to the press outside the National Assembly where opposition leader Juan Guaido is to lead a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. ‘In 2019 you represented the hopes of the nation, but today you’re its biggest deception,’ said Brito, one of a handful of lawmakers who have betrayed Guaido amid accusations they used their position to enrich themselves and do the bidding of Maduro and his allies. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela's opposition leader, is blocked by police from arriving to the Assembly where he is scheduled to lead the session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. The opposition-controlled National Assembly is expected to decide whether to keep Guaidó as its leader for a second year in a special session inaugurating the final year of its 2015-2020 legislative period. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, is blocked by police from arriving to the Assembly where he is scheduled to lead the session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. The opposition-controlled National Assembly is expected to decide whether to keep Guaidó as its leader for a second year in a special session inaugurating the final year of its 2015-2020 legislative period. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

A police road block keeps some opposition lawmakers, including National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela's opposition leader, from reaching the Assembly where Gaudio is to lead a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Amid bouts of shoving and political sloganeering, security forces demanded that each lawmaker present their credentials, arguing they were under orders to deny entry to several lawmakers banned from carrying out their duties by the loyalist supreme court. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

A police road block keeps some opposition lawmakers, including National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, from reaching the Assembly where Gaudio is to lead a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Amid bouts of shoving and political sloganeering, security forces demanded that each lawmaker present their credentials, arguing they were under orders to deny entry to several lawmakers banned from carrying out their duties by the loyalist supreme court. (AP Photo/Andrea Hernandez Briceño)

Lawmaker Luis Parra is sworn-in as National Assembly president after opposition lawmakers, including opposition Assembly President Juan Guaidó, were blocked by police from entering the session

Lawmaker Luis Parra is sworn-in as National Assembly president after opposition lawmakers, including opposition Assembly President Juan Guaidó, were blocked by police from entering the session

Maduro, who took over after the 2013 death of former President Hugo Chávez, says Guaidó is a puppet of the United States. Maduro also says he’s determined to win control of the National Assembly in elections later this year.

‘Despite perversions of the imperialist United States against Venezuela during 2019, we´ve managed to hold onto our independence, peace and stability,’ Maduro tweeted recently.

The two men remain locked in a power struggle. However, Maduro maintains military backing and control over most branches of the government, despite the deepening crisis and hard-hitting financial sanctions from the United States.

‘Guaidó will have to not only re-energize his base and convince them to stay engaged, but keep his coalition in line as well,’ said Geoff Ramsey, a researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America. ‘And the clock is ticking.’

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