Venezuela Congressional Showdown Looms After Maduro Maneuver

Guaido, barred from National Assembly, was re-elected off-site
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Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly who swore himself in as the leader of Venezuela, center left, and lawmaker Juan Carlos Berrizbeitia, center right, attend an off-site session of congress for a second term swearing in ceremony at the auditorium of the El Nacional newspaper building in Caracas on Jan. 5, 2020. — Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly who swore himself in as the leader of Venezuela, center left, and lawmaker Juan Carlos Berrizbeitia, center right, attend an off-site session of congress for a second term swearing in ceremony at the auditorium of the El Nacional newspaper building in Caracas on Jan. 5, 2020.
Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg

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By Patricia Laya and Alex Vasquez

January 6, 2020 at 6:56 PM UTC

Updated on

January 6, 2020 at 9:53 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Political confrontation is intensifying in Venezuela as opposition leader Juan Guaido and the government ally who says he’s replaced him as legislative head both announced plans to open a session at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The dueling announcements took place a day after security forces of President Nicolas Maduro barred Guaido from the assembly to prevent his re-election as leader. Guaido took his followers to an off-site session where he easily carried the vote.