Juan Guaidó makes a dramatic attempt to oust Venezuela’s regime

JUAN GUAIDÓ, recognised by most Western and Latin American democracies as Venezuela’s interim president, seems to have decided it was now or never to claim real power. In the early morning of April 30th he stood outside the La Carlota air-force base in Caracas, the capital, to proclaim that Operación Libertad, or Operation Liberty, the final push to free Venezuela from the dictatorial regime of Nicolás Maduro, had begun.

A few signs suggested that Mr Guaidó, who is supported by millions of Venezuelans suffering from regime-inflicted hunger and other hardships, might have the sort of backing needed to remove it. A video showed him surrounded by a small group of soldiers wearing blue armbands, signalling support for his movement. Some armoured cars were parked behind them.