One year after the proclamation of Guaidó, 27 countries that “support him” have Maduro ambassadors
Diplomatic headquarters of 27 countries, of the 55 that claim to recognize the opposition deputy Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela for a year, are in charge of the staff appointed by the president Nicolás Maduro, according data collected by Sputnik, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
A year ago, Guaido, a figure for that almost unknown moment, raised his hand before an euphoric opposition crowd in a square in eastern Caracas and self-sworn in as interim president of his country; promised: cessation of “usurpation”, free elections, and transitional government.
Among the countries that claim to recognize Guaidó, 20 decided to have two representations of Venezuela: self-proclaimed and Maduro.Those appointed by the opposition deputy are invited to meetings with those governments (selfies,etc), but when it comes to diplomatic or consular relations, those who exercise them are ambassadors, consuls and business managers appointed by Maduro.
The political fracture that exists in Venezuela, transcended borders and for the first time, in history the country has two delegations.
Some of these countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Portugal, United Kingdom, Greece and Panama.
In the case of Germany, the Foreign Ministry opted to recognize Otto Gebauer, as the “personal” representative of Guaidó, but the military man Orlando Maniglia Ferreira, appointed by Maduro, is the one who continues to occupy the embassy.
In the Dominican Republic, Sweden and Switzerland, Guaidó appointed officials, who despite being in those countries do not have diplomatic credentials, and although those nations support him, they maintain diplomatic representatives to those sent by Maduro.
55 countries that support Guaidó, there is also a group of seven in which only diplomatic personnel are appointed from the Miraflores Palace (seat of Government), and are: Albania, South Korea, Finland, Japan, Haiti, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Meanwhile, 17 nations have only Guaidó representatives, including: Canada, which since 2017 broke ties with Venezuela; Israel, with which since 2009 the country had no diplomatic ties; El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, which a week ago expelled the staff of the Venezuelan embassy designated by Maduro.
However, some of those 17 countries still have consular representation in Venezuela, on the grounds that they must ensure their citizens in the Caribbean nation.
In the case of Argentina, the new president Alberto Fernández withdrew the credentials that the Government of Mauricio Macri had given in special conditions to Elisa Trotta Gamus, representative appointed by Guaidó.
