Guaido returning to Venezuela soon, colleagues say

Venezuelan self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido plans to start his return to Caracas in the coming hours, some of his colleagues told EFE this Tuesday.

The sources said that at present they are studying the various ways to travel back to Venezuela.

Guaido took part Monday in the Bogota meeting of the Lima Group, then held several meetings “until very late” after leaving the Colombian Foreign Ministry.

Upon his departure, away from reporters and with a strong escort, Guaido left for an unknown destination.

Founded in the Peruvian capital in August 2017, the Lima Group comprises Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Guyana and St. Lucia.

Mexico, however, has distanced itself from the group since the other members recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader over the incumbent leftist president, Nicolas Maduro .

This Tuesday morning Guaido held “high-level private meetings” to continue the work begun Monday and also to discuss the humanitarian aid collected to provide relief for the crisis Venezuela is going through.

After yesterday’s meeting, Guaido said on Caracol Television that he was working on his return but confirmed that “this week” he will be in Caracas, “exercising” his functions as interim president, “not just to address the countries of the region but also to speak with our people.”

Guaido arrived at the Colombian border city of Cucuta last Friday for a concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson, meant to raise money for humanitarian relief in Venezuela.

It was the first time Guaido set foot outside Venezuela since declaring himself acting head of state on Jan. 23.

Venezuela’s Supreme Court, which supports Maduro, barred Guaido from leaving the country while he remains under investigation for his attempt to seize power.

Nonetheless, Guaido said Tuesday that his is “not under any order” authorized to stop him from leaving the country, given that the one who issued it is “usurping functions of the Attorney General’s Office and the Supreme (Court).”

The United States is in the vanguard of the roughly 50 countries, including the major European powers except Italy, that have recognized Guaido.

Russia, China and India are among the dozens of nations that regard Maduro as the legitimate president.