Juan Guaidó facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Guaidó
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Interim President of Venezuela | |
| In office 23 January 2019 – 5 January 2023 Disputed with Nicolás Maduro |
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| Preceded by | Nicolás Maduro |
| Succeeded by | Nicolás Maduro |
| 10th President of the National Assembly of Venezuela | |
| In office 5 January 2019 – 5 January 2023 |
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| Vice President | Edgar Zambrano Juan Pablo Guanipa |
| Preceded by | Omar Barboza |
| Succeeded by | Dinorah Figuera |
| Majority Leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela | |
| In office 5 January 2018 – 5 January 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Stalin González |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Prosperi |
| Member of the National Assembly of Venezuela | |
| In office 5 January 2016 – 5 January 2021 |
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| Constituency | Vargas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez
28 July 1983 La Guaira, Venezuela |
| Political party | Independent (since 2020) Popular Will (2009–2020) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Andrés Bello Catholic University George Washington University |
| Profession | Engineer, politician |
| Signature |  |
Juan Gerardo Antonio Guaidó Márquez (born 28 July 1983) is a Venezuelan politician. He is known for being a key figure in the Venezuelan presidential crisis from 2019 to 2023. During this time, he opposed Nicolás Maduro's government.
Guaidó started his political journey as a student leader in 2007. He helped create the Popular Will political party in 2009. He was elected to the National Assembly in 2010 and again in 2015. In 2019, he became the President of the National Assembly.
On 23 January 2019, the National Assembly said that the 2018 presidential election was not fair. They did not recognize Nicolás Maduro as president. Because of this, Guaidó swore himself in as the acting president of Venezuela. This started a big political crisis in the country.
The Maduro government took action against Guaidó. They froze his money and accused him of working with foreign countries. After a failed uprising attempt in April 2019, Guaidó and Maduro's teams started talks. In January 2020, security forces stopped Guaidó from entering the parliament building. Despite this, most lawmakers re-elected him as their leader.
Guaidó proposed a "national salvation agreement" in 2021. He suggested talks with Maduro for free and fair elections. He also wanted international support and observers. This was in exchange for lifting international sanctions against Venezuela.
In December 2022, major opposition parties decided to change the interim government. They wanted a new group to manage Venezuela's money held outside the country. Guaidó's claim to the presidency ended on 5 January 2023. He later moved to the United States in April 2023.
Contents
Early Life and School
Juan Guaidó was born on 28 July 1983. He grew up in a middle-class family in La Guaira, Venezuela. His father was an airline pilot and his mother was a teacher.
In 1999, his home state was hit by a terrible disaster. Mudslides destroyed his school and home. This event made him and his family homeless. Guaidó often talks about this event in his speeches. He says the government's slow response made him want to become an activist.
He finished high school in 2000 while living in a temporary home. In 2007, he earned a degree in industrial engineering. He studied at Andrés Bello Catholic University. He also completed two advanced programs in public administration.
Becoming an Activist
Guaidó became part of a student movement in 2007. This group protested the government's decision to close a TV network. They also protested other government changes proposed by then-President Hugo Chávez.
In 2009, Guaidó helped start the Popular Will political party. He worked closely with Leopoldo López, another important opposition leader. López guided Guaidó for many years. Guaidó was well-known within his party and the National Assembly.
Work in the National Assembly
In 2010, Guaidó was elected as a backup national deputy. He later became a full deputy in 2015. He was elected with 26% of the votes in his home state of Vargas. Before him, candidates from the ruling party usually won easily there.
In 2017, he led the National Assembly's Comptroller's Commission. In 2018, he became the head of the opposition in the legislature. He also helped investigate corruption cases. These cases involved the Maduro government.
Leading the National Assembly
The National Assembly has a system where different parties take turns leading. In December 2018, Guaidó's party, Popular Will, was chosen to lead. Since other party leaders were in jail or exile, Guaidó was selected. He became the President of the National Assembly on 5 January 2019. At 35, he was the youngest person to hold this position.
Two politicians, Julio Borges and Leopoldo López, helped plan Guaidó's rise. They worked on this plan for over a year. The plan aimed to declare Guaidó as interim president. They hoped other countries would support this move to remove Maduro.
When he took office, Guaidó promised to oppose Maduro. He created a plan with three main goals. These were to end Maduro's rule, form a temporary government, and hold free elections.
Brief Detention
On 13 January 2019, Guaidó was briefly held by security forces. He was released after about 45 minutes. Many international groups condemned this action. The Maduro government said it was done by officers acting alone.
Guaidó said this event showed that Maduro was losing control. He believed it meant the military's chain of command was breaking.
Re-election as Leader
On 5 January 2020, there was an election for the National Assembly's leaders. Security forces blocked Guaidó and other opposition members. Inside, some lawmakers elected Luis Parra as president. Parra was a former opposition member accused of corruption.
However, most lawmakers held a separate meeting. They voted to re-elect Guaidó as their leader. Guaidó then announced he was leaving the Popular Will party. He forced his way into the parliament building on 7 January to be sworn in.
Claiming the Presidency
After Nicolás Maduro's second inauguration on 10 January 2019, Guaidó challenged his power. The National Assembly said Guaidó was ready to take over as president. They called for protests on 23 January. This date was important because it was the anniversary of a dictator's overthrow in 1958.
On 23 January, Guaidó declared himself acting president at a rally. The United States quickly recognized him as president. Canada and many countries in Latin America and Europe followed. Countries like Russia and China supported Maduro. Maduro accused the U.S. of trying to start a coup. Guaidó said his movement was peaceful.
The Supreme Court of Venezuela, which supported Maduro, rejected Guaidó's actions. On 29 January 2019, the court froze Guaidó's money. They also banned him from leaving the country. A UN expert said these actions were not fair or legal.
By April 2021, the European Union no longer recognized Guaidó as interim president. This was because he was no longer head of parliament. The United States stopped recognizing him in January 2023. This happened when the opposition voted to end his interim government.
Working with Others
Guaidó had help from many young politicians. Miguel Pizarro worked on humanitarian aid. Carlos Paparoni led a finance group. Marialbert Barrios worked with embassies.
Guaidó appointed diplomats to represent Venezuela in other countries. These included Carlos Vecchio for the U.S. and Julio Borges for the Lima Group. He also appointed new leaders for the state oil company, PDVSA, and its U.S. branch, Citgo.
End of Interim Government
On 30 December 2022, three main opposition parties voted to end the interim government. They wanted to create a smaller group to manage foreign assets. This decision was approved with 72 votes in favor. It aimed for a united plan before the 2024 presidential elections.
Actions in Venezuela
Guaidó said he wanted to bring back democracy to Venezuela. He also aimed to get international support. He wanted to allow Venezuelans to decide their own future.
Amnesty Law
On 25 January 2019, Guaidó offered an Amnesty Law. This law would protect military members and officials who turned against Maduro. He suggested that Maduro himself might get amnesty if he gave up power. He asked supporters to share this law with military and police.
By April 2019, about 1,400 Venezuelan military personnel had left their posts. They crossed into Colombia or Brazil.
Future Elections
Guaidó said he would call for elections 30 days after Maduro left power. He did not say if he would run for president himself. He felt it was too early to discuss that.
Money and Economy
Guaidó asked the Bank of England not to return Venezuela's gold reserves to Maduro. He wanted the opposition to control these funds. The U.S. also put sanctions on PDVSA. They transferred control of some Venezuelan assets to Guaidó.
Guaidó said Maduro's government was trying to move money to Uruguay. He claimed they were trying to steal from the Venezuelan people. This transfer was stopped.
He also wanted to open up the economy. He planned to allow foreign oil companies to work more with PDVSA.
Helping People with Aid
Guaidó said that Venezuelan hospitals lacked basic supplies. He noted that children were dying from not enough food. He made bringing humanitarian aid a top priority. He asked the U.S. and the United Nations for help.
He said neighboring countries would help get aid into Venezuela. This aid would be sent to ports and then by land convoys. He traveled to Colombia in February 2019 to see the aid enter. However, Maduro's forces blocked the aid.
In March 2019, the Red Cross announced it would bring aid to Venezuela. This was to help with hunger and medical problems. Guaidó said this was due to their pressure. He urged Venezuelans to watch to make sure the aid was not stolen.
Plan for the Country
On 31 January, Guaidó announced a plan called "Plan País" (Plan for the Country). This plan aimed to rebuild Venezuela. It included goals like stabilizing the economy and helping with the humanitarian crisis. It also focused on fixing public services and reducing poverty. This plan could only start if Maduro left power.
Efforts to Remove Maduro
Operation Freedom
Guaidó announced "Operación Libertad" (Operation Freedom). He planned a tour across the country. The goal was to organize groups to take over the presidential palace. He called for a big march on 1 May. He hoped this would "end this tragedy."
On 30 April, Guaidó released a video with Leopoldo López. López had been freed from house arrest. They were with members of the military. Guaidó announced the "final phase" of Operation Freedom. He asked Venezuelans to go out and support democratic forces.
However, the expected military support did not happen. By the end of the day, one protester died and many were hurt. López went to the Spanish embassy. Many military personnel sought safety in the Brazilian embassy. On 1 May, the large march Guaidó called for did not happen. His supporters were forced back by security forces. Guaidó admitted he did not get enough military help.
After this, Guaidó's public support started to fall. People wondered if he could remove Maduro.
Strategic Committee
In August 2019, Guaidó formed a committee. This group was to explore ways to remove Maduro. They looked into different scenarios.
A person named J.J. Rendón, from the committee, talked to a security company. This company offered to capture Maduro for a large sum of money. Rendón signed an agreement with the company. However, Guaidó's team later pulled out of the plan. This company was later involved in a failed operation in May 2020.
This incident damaged Guaidó's reputation. Experts said it showed he might be politically inexperienced.
Talks with Maduro's Government
Guaidó initially refused to talk with Maduro. He said past talks had led to more repression. He asked other countries to join him instead. He believed Maduro used talks to strengthen his power.
After the failed uprising, Guaidó and Maduro's teams began talks in Norway. These talks were to find a solution. No agreement was reached after the first two meetings.
In July 2019, new talks started in Barbados. But in September, Guaidó announced the opposition ended the talks. This was because Maduro's government did not show up for 40 days.
In March 2020, the U.S. suggested a temporary government. This government would not include Maduro or Guaidó. The U.S. said it would lift sanctions if Maduro agreed to fair elections. Guaidó accepted this idea. But Venezuela's foreign minister rejected it.
In 2021, Guaidó again proposed talks with Maduro. He wanted a plan for free and fair elections. This was in exchange for lifting international sanctions. In August 2021, Mexico hosted new talks between the two sides.
Working with Other Countries
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Guaidó said that countries like Russia and China could still be involved in Venezuela. He believed a new plan for the country would benefit all businesses. He tried to convince China and Russia to stop supporting Maduro. He argued it was in their best interest to support a peaceful change.
Venezuela's oil is very important to Cuba. Guaidó promised to end Cuba's influence in Venezuela. He said Cubans were welcome to stay, but not in decision-making roles. The National Assembly voted to stop sending oil to Cuba.
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Guaidó also wanted to restore relations with Israel. Venezuela had cut ties with Israel years before.
Many Venezuelans have left the country. Guaidó signed a decree to extend the validity of Venezuelan passports. The U.S. and Canada accepted this decision.
In September 2019, Guaidó named several groups as terrorist organizations. These included FARC, ELN, Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS. He ordered security forces to protect Venezuela from these groups.
Military Discussions
Guaidó did not rule out accepting help from the U.S. military. However, he said they were trying every other way to avoid armed conflict. Many Venezuelans hoped for foreign help to solve the crisis. A poll in March showed strong support for foreign intervention. Guaidó said he would call for intervention "when the time comes." But he also tried to manage expectations for a quick solution.
Latin American Tour
Guaidó left Venezuela despite a travel ban. He attended a concert in Colombia in February 2019. The concert aimed to raise money for humanitarian aid. He met with Colombian president Iván Duque. This trip was a challenge to Maduro's authority.
After the concert, Guaidó met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. He then visited presidents in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Ecuador. He discussed ways to rebuild Venezuela.
Guaidó knew he might be arrested when he returned. But he announced he would go back to Venezuela anyway. He said Maduro's government was "weak."
On 4 March, Guaidó returned to Caracas. He was met by cheering supporters at the airport. He then went to a protest. He said immigration officials greeted him with "welcome, president." He believed this showed that the government's security forces were not fully following orders.
After his trip, a government official accused Guaidó of not explaining his travel costs. They claimed his spending was too high for his income. Because of this, they said he would be banned from holding public office for 15 years. Guaidó denied the charges.
Political Beliefs
Guaidó was a member of the social-democratic Popular Will party. He is now an independent politician. His colleagues see him as a moderate. However, Maduro places him on the right side of politics. Guaidó has said that what Americans call "socialist" is what Venezuelans call "Social Democrat."
Life in Exile
On 25 April 2023, Guaidó was forced to leave Venezuela. He had entered Colombia for a conference. Colombia then sent him to the United States. He now lives in Miami, Florida. In September 2023, he became a visiting professor at Florida International University.
Personal Life
Juan Guaidó is married to journalist Fabiana Rosales. They married in 2013. They have two daughters, Miranda and Mérida Antonieta. Guaidó is also a Freemason.
Public Opinion
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Before 2019, most people in Venezuela and other countries did not know Guaidó. The BBC reported that he was chosen as a leader by opposition parties. He was seen as someone who could bring different groups together.
He is known for "building unity among fellow lawmakers." One expert said he tried to reach out to the military. He also tried to unite the opposition and even people who supported Maduro.
In April 2019, Time magazine named Guaidó one of the 100 most influential people. Former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos wrote his profile. He described Guaidó as "young, energetic, articulate, determined" and brave. Santos said Guaidó was able to unite the opposition. He became a "beacon of hope" for Venezuela.
However, after failed attempts to remove Maduro, Guaidó's support dropped. His demonstrations had fewer people. By October 2021, polls showed his support in Venezuela was around 16%. This was partly due to accusations of corruption against some of his representatives.
Images for kids
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Juan Guaidó with his wife and daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Guaidó para niños
