The new president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, from her exile in Spain, is confident that she will be able to maintain institutional continuity and protect the assets that the opposition controls abroad, as well as renew the license of the Citgo refiner for a few more months.
Dinorah Figuera, a 61-year-old doctor and representative for the Primero Justicia party, was the leader chosen by the large opposition parties after end the mandate of Juan Guaidó, who remained in charge of the National Assembly for three years.
Figuera is convinced that the new team led by three deputies in exile he will be able to confront President Nicolás Maduro, whom the United States, among other countries, considers a dictator, and protect assets such as the US refiner Citgo and nearly $2 billion in gold bullion from international creditors. deposited in the Bank of England.
“The United States supports the National Assembly, England supports the National Assembly (…) we have had talks and that license (which protects Citgo) can be renewed for more months,” Figuera said in an interview with Reuters in Madrid.
This month, the United States Department of the Treasury extended protection to Citgo until April.
When Guaidó abandoned his role as interim president, which was recognized by dozens of countries in the world for considering Maduro’s re-election in 2018 illegal, the opposition Congress created a new board of directors and protection of assets with which they seek to give legal continuity to that figure.
The council, which is made up of figures from the largest opposition political parties, will now evaluate the best way to defend Venezuela’s interests abroad and will be monitored, Figuera said.
The deputy who has lived in exile in Valencia, in the south of Spain, since 2018, intends to “stack” the unity of the opposition again, after strong clashes between the leaders of the largest political parties.
Until now Figuera, like many opposition legislators, said that he does not receive a salary for his role and lives by taking care of an 87-year-old diabetic woman in Valencia, because he still does not have permission to practice as a doctor in his host country. Her plan is to continue taking care of the lady only in the morning.
But he is aware of the risks of now being on the front line of the political struggle.
“I know the consequences [de asumir el cargo] and I have received threats sent to me by people who know or have people close to Madurismo,” added the deputy.
A few hours after taking office, he said that Venezuelan police forces confiscated in Caracas the apartment and a van that were his assets in his country. Since he has been in exile, his mother and his sister have died of COVID-19.
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