{ "id": "IN11024", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "number": "IN11024", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 593952, "date": "2019-02-06", "retrieved": "2020-01-02T16:10:02.014746", "title": "Venezuela: U.S. Recognizes Interim Government", "summary": "Many in Congress are closely following events in Venezuela, given recent political developments that have led the United States and other governments to recognize an interim government. On January 23, 2019, amid widespread protests against the authoritarian government of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, the president of Venezuela\u2019s democratically elected, opposition-controlled National Assembly, Juan Guaid\u00f3, declared himself interim president of Venezuela until new presidential elections are convened. The United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries have recognized Guaid\u00f3 as the interim president. The situation remains volatile. Maduro retains control of most of the military, even as domestic protests and international pressure mount against him. The United States has blocked the Maduro government from accessing revenue from the state oil company and agreed to provide humanitarian aid at Guaid\u00f3\u2019s request.\nBackground\nMaduro began a second six-year term as president of Venezuela on January 10, 2019. He won reelection in May 2018 in a contest boycotted by most of the opposition and deemed illegitimate by much of the international community. An escalating economic and humanitarian crisis has further undermined his domestic legitimacy. There had been dissent within the military, but Maduro arrested and reportedly tortured individuals, including military personnel, accused of plotting coups. Maduro faced international isolation, as the United States, key European countries, and 18 other members of the Organization of American States recognized the National Assembly as Venezuela\u2019s only democratic institution. \nInterim President Juan Guaid\u00f3\nJuan Guaid\u00f3, a 35-year-old industrial engineer who hails from the Popular Will (VP) party of Leopoldo L\u00f3pez (who remains under house arrest), was elected president of the National Assembly on January 5, 2019. Under Guaid\u00f3\u2019s leadership, the National Assembly has enacted resolutions declaring that President Maduro is no longer the legitimate president, establishing a framework for a transition government, and providing amnesty for any public officials (including military members) who support a transition. On January 11, Guaid\u00f3 declared himself willing to serve as interim president until presidential elections are held. He called for protests to occur on January 23, 2019, the 61st anniversary of the ouster of dictator Marcos P\u00e9rez Jim\u00e9nez. Intelligence police detained and then released Guaid\u00f3 on January 13, 2019. \nThe Maduro-aligned Supreme Court has ruled that the new National Assembly leadership has been acting outside the law and invalidated its declarations. Nevertheless, Guaid\u00f3 took the oath of office on January 23, 2019, based on an interpretation of Article 233 of the constitution that regards Maduro as having \u201cusurped\u201d (or abandoned) the presidency after January 10. Rallies for Guaid\u00f3 have been massive.\nGuaid\u00f3 is seeking to form a transition government, but Maduro controls the military and refuses to step down. Thus far, one general has supported Guiad\u00f3, but it is unclear whether others will. Some 40 deaths and more than 800 detentions have occurred since January 23. The government has sent police to raid Guaid\u00f3\u2019s home, detained foreign journalists, and censored coverage of Guiad\u00f3. Further unrest is likely. \nInternational Reaction\nFourteen Western Hemisphere countries have recognized the Guiad\u00f3 government, including Canada, most South American countries (including neighboring Colombia and Brazil), four Central American countries, and three Caribbean nations. The EU initially gave Maduro a deadline for scheduling elections; it lapsed on February 3. Although Italy blocked unified EU recognition of Guaid\u00f3\u2019s government, 24 European countries recognized Guaid\u00f3 (including France, Spain, and Germany). The EU and some Latin American countries are forming a contact group on Venezuela.\nRussia has backed President Maduro and warned against U.S. intervention in Venezuela. Bolivia, Nicaragua, Turkey, Syria, and Iran also have supported Maduro. China has pledged not to intervene in Venezuela\u2019s domestic affairs, and Mexico and Uruguay have supported mediation.\nU.S. Policy\nThe Trump Administration has sought to increase pressure on the Maduro government and hasten a return to democracy in Venezuela. U.S. pressure has included targeted sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities and four executive orders establishing broader economic sanctions. On January 10, 2019, the U.S. State Department condemned Maduro\u2019s \u201cillegitimate usurpation of power.\u201d On January 22, Vice President Pence issued a video urging the Venezuelan people to protest the following day in support of Guiad\u00f3. President Trump recognized Guaid\u00f3 as interim president of Venezuela on January 23. \nIn response to U.S. actions, Maduro broke diplomatic ties with the United States and initially ordered U.S. diplomats to depart within 72 hours before eventually allowing them to stay for 30 days. Secretary of State Pompeo has stated that the United States will maintain a mission in Caracas to conduct relations with the Guiad\u00f3 government, but nonessential staff and dependents have evacuated. The State Department has warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela. \nThe Trump Administration has continued high-level communications with Guaid\u00f3 and his representatives. On January 28, the Administration imposed sanctions on Venezuela\u2019s state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), to prevent Maduro and his government from benefitting from Venezuela\u2019s oil revenue. The State Department offered $20 million in humanitarian assistance to interim President Guaid\u00f3; that aid reportedly is being positioned in border areas for delivery. President Trump also has repeatedly asserted that \u201call options are on the table\u201d to address the Venezuela situation, including the use of U.S. military force, although most observers believe that is a remote possibility. \nPotential Implications\nThe rapidly changing situation in Venezuela poses significant challenges for U.S. policymakers. The United States has pledged full support for the Guaid\u00f3 government, although it is unclear what that support might involve should the situation devolve into violence. If Guaid\u00f3 consolidates a transition government, Congress may consider the type and appropriate channels through which it could authorize and appropriate funding for the new government. Support from international financial institutions likely would play a major role in supporting Venezuela\u2019s economic recovery. Some observers, including a former head of the U.S. Southern Command, have argued against policy options that could exacerbate the tense situation on the ground in Venezuela and alienate some U.S. allies. If a political transition does not occur quickly, some observers also caution that the stronger sanctions imposed on PdVSA could exacerbate Venezuela\u2019s humanitarian crisis.", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IN11024", "sha1": "68210077f1c8b1fc41426830ec23daded1d08e46", "filename": "files/20190206_IN11024_68210077f1c8b1fc41426830ec23daded1d08e46.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/IN11024", "sha1": "a877e3520089cefd9cb278f07adfe1bdbb1df3ed", "filename": "files/20190206_IN11024_a877e3520089cefd9cb278f07adfe1bdbb1df3ed.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] } ], "topics": [ "CRS Insights" ] }