Opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela on Tuesday after an international support-building tour and called on the people in the crisis-wracked nation to keep pushing back against President Nicolas Maduro.
Guaido — who had defied a travel ban to visit Colombia, the United States, Canada and several European nations — was greeted by a throng of cheering supporters at the international airport outside the capital Caracas.
“We’re in Caracas now. I bring back with me the commitment of the free world, ready to help us regain democracy and freedom,” Guaido wrote on Twitter, before tweeting a picture of himself at passport control that was captioned “HOME.”
Shortly before his arrival, fighting broke out between his followers — including several lawmakers — and Maduro’s supporters.
“Guaido, fascist!” shouted employees of the state-run airline Conviasa, which was subjected to US sanctions last week, who had entered the area where the 36-year-old’s backers were waiting for him. Several diplomats were present.
Chavistas were waiting for Guaido to scold him about his efforts to increase U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/SXXlEMcCfG
— HĂĂĂĆ€ (@care_mariah) February 12, 2020