Venezuelan opposition weakens as Biden prepares to take office

When the Venezuelan regime takes over the presidency of the National Assembly on Tuesday, it will place US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó in its most dangerous position since he became leader of the movement to topple authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro two years ago.

As for the current government, Mr. Guaidó will not be the president of Congress in Venezuela now that Maduro’s aides are about to take an oath. To lead the 277-member National Assembly. Mr Guaidó’s position as president of the association gave grounds for the United States and more than 50 countries to recognize Mr Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

Maduro has said publicly that his government is prepared to engage with the United States, despite previous efforts to broker a dialogue have failed.

An official in the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden said he had no plans to negotiate with Mr. Maduro, adding that he had no contacts with the Venezuelan regime.

“President-elect Biden has been clear throughout the election campaign and during the transitional period that he believes Maduro is a dictator and that the Biden administration will stand with the Venezuelan people and call for the restoration of democracy through free and fair elections,” the official said.