Donald Trump is “in charge” almost daily of undermining the fragile authority of the “president in charge” of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez. A game of provocative statements and denials seems to take place between Washington and Caracas. “Interim President of Venezuela,” the Republican billionaire called himself with an imperial air. The substitute of Nicolas Maduro decided to answer him. “I’ve seen caricatures on Wikipedia of who’s in charge in Venezuela. Well, here is a Government that rules in Venezuela, here is a president in charge and there is a president hostage in the United States,” he said when visiting a community in the state of La Guaira affected by the January 3 attacks that led to the capture and transfer to the United States of the Venezuelan executive authority. At the same time, in a message that seems more intended for the internal front, still perplexed by what happened, Rodríguez assured that He exercises his position together with “the people organized in the communities“and supported by the civil-military union. “We are vindicating the rights of our beloved homeland against the illicit aggressions of the American Government.”
Trump opened the door to meeting with Rodríguez, but first he will do so with María Corina Machado, whom he will receive in Washington. Trump spokesperson Karoline LeavittHowever, he highlighted the role that the “president in charge” has been playing since her swearing-in before the National Assembly (AN). “The last week has shown that the president made a realistic and correct evaluation of what should happen in Venezuela at the moment… We have seen a great level of cooperation from Rodríguez and his team with the United States, and President Trump expects it to continue,” Leavitt said, giving as an example the “huge energy agreement and the release of political prisoners” of the last hours. The praise was heard as the demarcation of the boundary drawn around the Miraflores Palace. Analysts wonder how long this reluctant coexistence will work..
The claims of authority of the Government that has replaced Maduro are questioned daily by the magnate and his collaborators. According to Reuters, two Chinese-flagged oil tankers heading to Venezuela To collect their cargo they returned with nothing inside them to the Asian giant. The episode is not unrelated to the US announcement of an agreement with PDVSA to send up to 50 million barrels of crude oil.
“Tactical withdrawal”
In a meeting with influencers, the Minister of Communication, Freddy Ñáñez, admitted that the Government that emerged from the events of January 3 is in a “tactical withdrawal” situation that does not allow him to “say publicly” his true opinions of the current relationship with Washington. “Translated into an operation: the State reserves ‘presentable’ speech while pushing harsher, aggressive or conspiratorial messages through ‘popular’ channels,” the portal said. Cocuyo Effect. “It is a useful architecture for power: it allows us to deny responsibility when the message becomes toxic, but to take advantage of its effect when it fulfills its function.”
Relations with the US and the EU
The number two of the historic madurismo, and at the same time Minister of the Interior and Justice and main authority of the United Socialist Party, Diosdado Hair, has just supported the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the United States. “This will allow us consular representation so that they can ensure the security and tranquility of our president Maduro and Cilia in the United States. That is the fundamental objective, which allows us to have someone there because right now they are kidnapped there and we don’t have anyoneexcept for lawyers who are not Venezuelan.”
In turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, made it known that Rodríguez is willing to go in the same direction in the European Union (EU)the United Kingdom and Switzerland, after a meeting between the diplomatic corps of these countries in Caracas. The “president in charge,” said the minister, “has conveyed a very clear message: Within the framework of respect, within the framework of the equality of States, we are willing to advance a new agendaan intense work agenda for the well-being of both peoples, of all the peoples of Europe and Venezuela.”
The meeting with the ambassadors was “frank, cordial, pleasant”. The parties agreed to “open increasingly deeper avenues of dialogue.” On January 6, the EU had questioned Rodríguez’s legitimacy. According to Gil “A very interesting stage of dialogue opensconstruction, cooperation in all areas of life in our countries and that will surely benefit our people. “We reaffirm the will of the Bolivarian Government to work hand in hand and under diplomatic principles with all the people of the world.”
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