CARACAS, February 15. /TASS/. There is a need to unite the Venezuelan people to resolve the current crisis of power, the country’s opposition leader Juan Guaido said in an interview with TASS.
According to him, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "does not realize how fast the situation is deteriorating." "He will have to cede power and agree to fair elections," Guaido stressed, adding that the opposition would achieve its goal "by uniting social and political powers and by mobilizing the people."
He noted that rallies were taking place not only in Caracas but in other cities as well. "The impressive thing is how people are contributing to our cause," Guaido added.
In response to a question about the possibility of the crisis spiraling into a clash, he said, "the Venezuelan people have decided to combine all their forces and powers to unite into a single movement." "Our fight is not based on violence, it is consistent with democracy and the constitution," he said.
When speaking about why the Venezuelan opposition relied on the United States on the international stage, Guaido pointed out that "the US was the first to recognize us, followed by the governments of Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Canada and Europe." "We are boosting relations with all countries ready to cooperate with us," he emphasized.
On January 23, Juan Guaido, Venezuelan opposition leader and parliament speaker, whose appointment to that position had been cancelled by the country’s Supreme Court, declared himself interim president. Several countries, including the United States, recognized him. Maduro, in turn, blasted the move as a coup staged by Washington.
Moscow does not recognize Guaido as interim president and continues to support the incumbent administration of Nicolas Maduro.