Guaido reclaims Venezuela National Assembly

Bloomberg

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido reclaimed the National Assembly that he heads, pushing past armed guards two days after President Nicolas Maduro’s loyalists blocked him from attending his own re-election.
Guaido and his allies burst through the legislative palace’s doors minutes after a pro-government group led by lawmaker Luis Parra, who had claimed the presidency of the body, scurried to a next-door building for refuge.
Guaido climbed to the dais and took the microphone as opposition lawmakers sang the national anthem, which includes the words “Death to oppression.” Lawmakers then voted to recognise Guaido’s re-election as head of the National Assembly for 2020.
They rejected Parra’s attempt to claim the role thanks to a vote taken amid chaos in the chamber as Guaido’s supporters were barred, preventing a quorum.
“It’s a great feat for us to be here today,” Guaido said after reclaiming his place. “This is proof of what’s possible if we’re firmly united and organised.”
Electricity was cut off at one point, prompting lawmakers to read the attendance list with the help of mobile phone lights and without microphones. Outside, armed civilian groups known as colectivos cornered and forcibly removed a group of journalists and lawmakers, beating and stealing from some of those gathered.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido reclaimed the National Assembly that he heads.
The attempted takeover of what was Venezuela’s last democratic institution has deepened the standoff between Maduro and Guaido, who last year was recognised as the nation’s legitimate leader by more than 50 countries.
The opposition is putting on a “spectacle” at the National Assembly as it fights for control of the body, Maduro said. The government would ignore the fuss and focus on winning the Assembly in elections expected for later this year, he said. “The people will recover the National Assembly with votes in elections this year,” Maduro said.