EE.UU sanctions Luis Parra and six other deputies for the controversial election in the National Assembly

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The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan citizens who "led an attempt to take control of the National Assembly illegitimately," the Treasury Department said in a statement. Among those punished is Luis Parra, the dissident opponent accused of corruption who proclaimed himself president of the National Assembly on January 5, with the support of Chavismo, in an attempt to unseat Juan Guaidó at the head of the institution. Also receiving sanctions are José Gregorio Noriega Figueroa, Franklyn Leonardo Duarte, José Dionisio Brito Rodriguez, Conrado Antonio Perez Linares, Adolfo Ramón Superlano and Negal Manuel Morales Llovera. The sanctions round constitutes a new measure of pressure on the Government of Nicolás Maduro.

"The Treasury has appointed seven corrupt officers of the National Assembly who, at Maduro's call, tried to block the democratic process in Venezuela," says Steven Mnuchin, secretary of the Treasury, who warns that "these and other officers they can get rid of their sanctions if they side with the people of Venezuela and Juan Guaidó as their legitimate leader. ”

Parra swore on January 5 as head of Parliament with the support of the Chavista bench. He says he had the support of 81 parliamentarians of the 167 that make up the Assembly. However, the election was held freehand without anyone counting the votes and without sufficient assistance from deputies. An action that the bulk of the Venezuelan opposition denounced as a "coup d'etat." That day the Venezuelan police prevented dozens of opposition deputies from accessing the chamber, including Juan Guaidó.

In a parallel session at the headquarters of the newspaper El Nacional, a hundred opposition deputies re-elected Guaidó as president of Parliament. More than 50 countries led by the United States do not recognize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and consider the opposition leader as interim president.

The International Contact Group, created in March 2019 to mediate the crisis generated following the jury of Nicolás Maduro for a new period in elections considered fraudulent, backed Guaidó last Thursday and assured that “the election of Luis Parra It cannot be considered legitimate or democratic. ” On the same Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for "a rapid negotiated transition" in Venezuela to organize legislative and presidential elections during 2020. "It is the most effective and sustainable route to peace and prosperity in Venezuela," said the leader of American diplomacy in a statement. Among the demands of the United States are the creation of a new and independent National Electoral Council (CNE), and the renewal of the Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump himself referred last Thursday to the situation in Venezuela in an appearance with the press. "I never thought that [the situation in Venezuela] was going smoothly," he said. The improvement of the situation "will take a period of time," he said. "But we have a good strategy," he said. "We are helping people, I think we are doing a good job. We will see what happens. Stay connected."

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