Florida Delegation Calls On White House To Recognize Interim Venezuelan Leader

Umer Jamshaid Published January 23, 2019 | 06:03 AM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2019) A delegation from the US state of Florida is urging the White House to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

Venezuela's National Assembly has appointed Guaido as its speaker. Guaido said he was prepared to take over as the nation's interim president to organize a new presidential ballot after the parliament refused to recognize last May's election.

"We strongly encourage them [the Trump administration] to recognize Juan Guaido as the interim-president of that country as he is rightfully under the constitution of Venezuela," Senator Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday.

Rubio added that on Wednesday thousands of Venezuelans will take to the streets in defense of the country's constitution.

Rubio, Senator Rick Scott, Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart met with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Vice President said in a video message to the Venezuelan people that the United States supports Guaido's call for a transnational government in the country.

On Monday, Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled that the National Assembly did not have valid leadership and all the body's decisions were null and void.