US Senator Rubio Says Venezuela Has No Unified Opposition

Senator Marco Rubio said Monday the opposition in Venezuela is a diverse mix of political parties that are unified only in the belief of holding a new election in the country

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2019) US Senator Marco Rubio said Monday the opposition in Venezuela is a diverse mix of political parties that are unified only in the belief of holding a new election in the country.

"When you see the Venezuelan opposition, there is no such thing as the opposition," Rubio said at the Heritage Foundation. "It is a conglomeration of various political parties all of whom will file their own candidates very soon in a new and free election."

Rubio has been a vocal supporter of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who on January 23 declared himself to be Venezuela's interim president.

Guaido's declaration was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some of its allies.

Russia, China, Mexico, Turkey and Uruguay have said that they consider Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to be the country's legitimate president.

Maduro has called Guaido a puppet of the United States and accused Washington of attempting to orchestrate a coup d'etat in Venezuela. In addition, Maduro had informed the Trump administration of his decision to sever diplomatic relations with the United States. However, Washington has refused to remove its diplomatic staff from Venezuela.