/ Updated
By Carmen Sesin
President Donald Trump officially recognized Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president on Wednesday after Guaidó declared himself the country’s leader amid cheers from thousands who were protesting in the streets of the capital, Caracas.
“In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country’s constitution to declare Nicolás Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant,” said Trump in a statement. “The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.”
In response, Maduro declared on live television that he is breaking relations with the United States, and gave diplomatic personnel 72 hours to leave the country.
Guaidó, 35, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president as hundreds of thousands marched in Caracas demanding an end to Maduro’s government.
At the rally, people held Venezuelan flags, and shouted: “Who are we? Venezuela! What do we want? Freedom!”
Edwin González, 24, a university student studying engineering, came out to march because he said it was Venezuelans last chance to “get rid of the regime.” He said he has participated in almost every anti-government protest in the past.
“We have no other choice but to protest,” said González. “They have taken everything away from us, even fear.”
The protests were called to coincide with the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew military dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez — a historic date for Venezuelans.
Maduro was inaugurated two weeks ago to a second, six-year term, which the U.S. and dozens of other countries have called illegitimate.
González said his university has suspended classes because it has not had running water for 55 days. Despite protesting to have the water restored, “like all government issues, they don’t work,” he said.
González, however, does not want to emigrate. “I have lived my entire life under dictatorship. I would like to see something new.”
The socialist leader Hugo Chávez was elected in 1998 and used revenues from the oil boom to spend heavily on social programs. He died in 2013 just before oil prices dropped sharply and Maduro took over.
Since then, the oil-rich nation has spiraled into economic and political turmoil and is nearing total collapse. Hyperinflation has made its currency, the bolivar, practically worthless. Severe shortages in food and medicine have left Venezuelans hungry and dying of preventable diseases. Crime, often fueled by poverty, is rampant. Over 3 million Venezuelans have fled the country, straining the resources of nearby nations.
Government supporters also marched in Caracas in what was supposed to be a rival show of strength. On Wednesday morning, there were only a few hundred gathered with music playing in the background.
“I am here to support continuity and the presidency of Maduro. The people elected him,” said Javier Terán, 43, who works for the Ministry of Petroleum at the pro-government march. “Our people have been attacked internally and externally since Chávez was in power.”
Terán added that current right-wing governments in neighboring countries are “attacking” Venezuela economically and psychologically.
Although critics of the Maduro government want his ouster, no viable solution has emerged. Some experts caution that anti-government protests have failed in the past.
There has been pressure on the military, though, to move away from Maduro. A small team of soldiers recently attempted an uprising but it was quashed by the government.
“Everyone thinks they have to do something to get the military to move against the regime. That’s what everyone is banking on,” said Frank Mora, a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration who now heads Florida International University’s Latin America and Caribbean Center.
“But that won’t happen until there is such pressure that they feel they can’t continue repressing,” Mora said. “What will provoke the military to intervene is what I think is at play here.”
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