Venezuela’s self-declared interim leader Juan Guaidó defied a travel ban and left Venezuela last month, but today he received a jubilant welcome back home. He flew back into Caracas on a flight from Panama Monday tweeting (translated): Already in our beloved land! Venezuela, we have just passed migration and we will mobilize where our people are! Reuters writes:
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to his country on Monday after flouting a court-imposed travel ban by touring Latin American countries to boost support for his campaign to tighten regional pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
A crowd of cheering supporters greeted Guaido and his wife as they stepped into the Maiquetia airport’s arrivals hall, and then sped to an opposition rally in eastern Caracas where thousands had gathered to welcome him.
Maduro has hinted that he would have Guaidó arrested saying, “He can’t just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country.”
It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Guaidó would be detained by government security forces. But Mr. Maduro’s government has said Mr. Guaidó violated restrictions on his travel and could face arrest.
Mr. Guaidó returned and was welcomed by cheering crowds in Venezuela as the Trump administration escalated its warnings to Mr. Maduro’s government not to carry out its threat to seize the opposition leader. Mr. Guaidó is recognized by President Trump and more than 50 other heads of government as Venezuela’s rightful president until new elections can be held.
BBC captured his return on video. Watch above.
