Venezuela has been thrust into renewed crisis. DW looks at the key players and how the country reached breaking point.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/B. Vergara
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Venezuela has been plunged into an even deeper political crisis as an opposition leader backed by the United States and regional states declared himself acting president in a challenge to embattled President Nicolas Maduro.
Here is a look at the key players and institutions:
Nicolas Maduro
The socialist president has ruled Venezuela since narrowly winning disputed elections in 2013 following the death of his mentor, President Hugo Chavez. Maduro has since consolidated control over key state institutions, including the Supreme Court, the military and the country's main source of revenue, the state oil company PDVSA. Under his leadership Venezuela's economy has collapsed, plunging Venezuelans into deep poverty and forcing millions to flee the country. His regime has come under Western sanctions.
Maduro was sworn in for a second six-year term following controversial elections last May boycotted by the opposition and condemned by Western powers and most Latin American countries.
All eyes will be on whether Maduro will be able to avoid elite fracture to maintain control, particularly among the army.
Maduro has demanded that US diplomats leave, while the opposition urged them to stayImage: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Cubillos
Juan Guaido
Guaido is a founding member of Popular Will, a more activist and confrontational party within the now-defunct Democratic Unity Round Table (MUD), a motley umbrella group of more than a dozen parties that led the opposition for years.
He's the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly and took an unofficial oath that made him interim president on January 23
The 35-year-old was relatively unknown until being sworn in as head of the National Assembly earlier in the month. His first act was to muster the body to condemn Maduro's rule as "illegitimate" and declare its intention to establish an interim government leading to elections aimed at restoring democracy.
Guaido advanced to the front of the divided opposition as its leading figures have been imprisoned, put under house arrest or fled into exile. Among those under house arrest are Popular Will leader Leopoldo Lopez, who is serving a sentence for allegedly inciting violence during anti-regime demonstrations in 2014.
Guaido's move, which was recognized by the United States and regional powers, appears to have caught Maduro off guard and isolated him further. It has also created the prospect of a parallel government and increased social unrest and violence in the oil-rich country devastated by economic collapse.
National Assembly vs Constituent Assembly
The National Assembly was neutered in 2017 by the Maduro loyalist Supreme Court and replaced by a pro-government Constituent Assembly tasked with rewriting the constitution. The opposition boycotted July 2017 elections for the Constituent Assembly, which it claimed illegally usurped the powers of the legislature.
The political crisis in 2017 unleashed street violence that left more than 100 people dead.
Venezuela's military
The leadership of the Venezuelan military has so far backed Maduro despite calls from the opposition for soldiers to take the side of the people.
There was a small-scale mutiny, which the government said it had foiled on Monday.
Guaido has promised an amnesty to soldiers who help to topple Maduro.
But Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino tweeted: "The soldiers of the fatherland do not accept a president who has been imposed in the shadow of obscure interests."
Maduro has worked hard to keep the military on his side, putting officers in charge of key posts in the government and state oil company.
Soldiers have reasons to be disgruntled, though. Even if soldiers are paid, their salaries don't go as far as they once did.
Venezuela on the brink
Venezuela is facing collapse amid multiple crises. DW takes a look at what has brought the oil-rich nation to its knees.
In March 2017, violent protests erupted across the country in response to a Supreme Court decision to strip the legislative branch of its powers. Amid an international outcry, President Nicolas Maduro reversed the decision, but it was too late. Thousands continued to take to the streets, calling for new elections. More than 100 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Barreto
Hunger, a growing problem
The violence added to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans spend more than 30 hours a week waiting in lines to shop, and are often confronted with empty shelves when they finally enter a store. President Maduro blames the crisis on US price speculation. The opposition, however, accuses the Socialist government of economic mismanagement.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/C. Becerra
Health care in crisis
The crisis has even affected health care in the oil-rich nation. Venezuelans often head to Colombia to collect medical supplies to send home, as seen in this picture. Hospitals across Venezuela have compared conditions to those seen only in war zones. As patient deaths rise, health officials have sounded the alarm on the rise of malaria and dengue fever.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Duenas Castaneda
Power grab
By July 2017, Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly was established. For observers, it had all the hallmarks of a power grab. The new body adopted the authority to pass legislation on a range of issues, effectively taking away the powers of Venezuela's elected congress, which was under the opposition's control. The move drew wide international condemnation.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Miraflores
The West sanctions
In response to the political crisis, the United States and European Union imposed a series of sanctions against ruling officials. The US blacklisted members of the Constituent Assembly and froze all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction. The EU banned arms sales to the country.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AFP/T. Schwarz
Government victorious in regional elections
In October 2017, Venezuela held two votes: regional elections and elections for governors, which were long overdue. The opposition boycotted the vote, but then split, as some candidates and small parties chose to participate. This caused a deep rift within Maduro's opponents. The government went on to sweep the vote, which detractors say was unfair and heavily favored the regime.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Debt default
In November 2017, the oil-rich, cash-poor nation faced its day of reckoning. Credit ratings agencies declared Venezuela and its state-run oil company in "selective default." But Russia offered to restructure the South American country's debt to ensure Caracas pays its other creditors. US and EU sanctions, however, limited the chance of an agreement.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Presidential elections scheduled
The National Assembly announced in January 2018 that it would grant Maduro's call for snap presidential elections. The electoral authority, CNE, held the elections on May 20. The EU, the US and 14 Latin American nations warned that they would not recognize the results. The mainstream MUD opposition alliance boycotted the vote, leaving only one possible outcome.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Parra
Maduro wins ...
Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term with about 68 percent of the vote. Turnout was only 46 percent, according to electoral authorities. However, the MUD opposition alliance put turnout at less than 30 percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) called the elections neither free nor fair.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
... Guaido assumes power
But weeks into the new year, the situation took a drastic turn. On January 23, 2019, parliament president Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela — a move that was quickly recognized by US President Donald Trump. Maduro called it a US-backed "coup." Days later, the US sanctioned Venezuela's state oil firm, while Guaido staked his claim on the country's foreign assets.
