translated from Spanish: U.S. sanctioned president-elect of Venezuelan National Assembly

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on seven “corrupt officers of the National Assembly” for “blocking the democratic process in Venezuela,” including Luis Parra, whom ‘Chavismo’ and the minority opposition appointed as head of the to the detriment of the opposition leader Juan Guaidó.The sanctioned are, in addition to Parra, the deputies José Dionisio Brito, Negal Manuel Morales, José Gregorio Noriega, Adolfo Ramón Superlano, Franklyn Duarte and Conrado Pérez, as reported by the Treasury Department in a statement. Washington accuses them of “leading the failed attempt to unlawfully take control of the National Assembly and prevent interim President Juan Guaidó and other deputies from participating in an election required by the Constitution.” The Treasury refers to what happened on January 5th, when Parra was elected in a vote in which Guaidó and the majority opposition that captains were unable to participate because the security forces prevented them from entering Parliament.Guaidó was ratified in the immena in a vote held that same day in the writing of the Venezuelan newspaper ‘El Nacional’ by 100 votes, 16 more than necessary. The opposition leader must retain the title of president of the National Assembly to also maintain that of “president in charge” of Venezuela.” The Treasury has appointed seven corrupt National Assembly officers who, on behalf of (Nicolás) Maduro, attempted to block the democratic process in Venezuela,” said Department Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.La Donald Trump Administration appointed as leader of the group to Parra, “who continues to obstruct the procedures of the National Assembly”, as he claims himself as its sole president. Later, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has extolled these sanctions against “those who drown and suppress Venezuela’s democratic aspirations.” These sanctions include “seven Maduro-like individuals involved in the failed attempt to take the National Assembly,” Pompeo said. “Venezuela’s security forces owe allegiance to the Venezuelan people, not To Maduro,” he recalled. The United States has adopted numerous sanctions against Maduro and its allies, both inside and outside Venezuela, focusing on Cuba and Nicaragua in the latter case. Among those sanctioned are Maduro himself, his wife, Cilia Flores and their children. Mnuchin has emphasized that “these and the others sanctioned may see sanctions removed against them if they side with the people of Venezuela and Juan Guaidó as their legitimate leader.”

Original source in Spanish