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| Venezuela's Guaidó forces his way into assembly after stand-off | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Chaotic scenes are unfolding at Venezuela's National Assembly as Juan Guaidó has gained access to the legislative building after a tense stand-off with police. | |
| National Guards in riot gear had formed a cordon around the building, but Mr Guaidó and another 100 opposition lawmakers broke through it. | |
| The move comes two days after Mr Guaidó was prevented from attending a vote to re-elect him as Speaker. | |
| He called it a "parliamentary coup". | |
| On Tuesday Mr Guaidó arrived at the National Assembly building in a convoy of cars and busses carrying 100 lawmakers who back his re-election as Speaker. | |
| They were let through a number of checkpoints but not through the cordon of riot police surrounding the building. A tense stand-off ensued. | |
| About 30 minutes, amid shouts of "this is not a military headquarter" and "the people rule, not the military", Mr Guaidó and his supporters pushed their way past the guards. | |
| Pro-government lawmakers who had been inside the National Assembly appear to have left the building. | |
| How did it come to this? | |
| The melee follows similar scenes on Sunday when Mr Guaidó and a number of opposition lawmakers were successfully barred from entering the building. | |
| In his absence, dissident opposition lawmaker Luis Parra was elected Speaker. But National Assembly members backing Mr Guaidó held a rival vote outside the chamber, re-electing him as Speaker. | |
| Why does it matter who's Speaker? | Why does it matter who's Speaker? |
| Under the Venezuelan constitution, lawmakers elect a Speaker for a one-year term on 5 January. | Under the Venezuelan constitution, lawmakers elect a Speaker for a one-year term on 5 January. |
| Opposition politician Juan Guaidó was elected to the post last year. A couple of weeks later, he jumped into the international limelight when he declared himself interim president of Venezuela. | Opposition politician Juan Guaidó was elected to the post last year. A couple of weeks later, he jumped into the international limelight when he declared himself interim president of Venezuela. |
| Mr Guaidó argued that because the 2018 presidential election that returned President Nicolás Maduro to power had been widely been denounced as rigged, the presidency was vacant. | Mr Guaidó argued that because the 2018 presidential election that returned President Nicolás Maduro to power had been widely been denounced as rigged, the presidency was vacant. |
| He invoked a paragraph in the constitution which states that in such cases, the National Assembly Speaker should take over power. | He invoked a paragraph in the constitution which states that in such cases, the National Assembly Speaker should take over power. |
| More than 50 countries recognised him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. However, Mr Maduro, who enjoys the support of the Venezuelan military, has remained in power. | More than 50 countries recognised him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. However, Mr Maduro, who enjoys the support of the Venezuelan military, has remained in power. |
| Mr Maduro's government and the opposition-controlled National Assembly have been at loggerheads for years. But as Mr Guaidó's claim to the interim presidency rests on his position as Speaker, this election took on a much greater significance than in previous years. | Mr Maduro's government and the opposition-controlled National Assembly have been at loggerheads for years. But as Mr Guaidó's claim to the interim presidency rests on his position as Speaker, this election took on a much greater significance than in previous years. |
| Opposition politicians accused the government of offering lawmakers financial incentives to vote against him - an allegation the presidency has denied. | Opposition politicians accused the government of offering lawmakers financial incentives to vote against him - an allegation the presidency has denied. |
| What was the outcome? | What was the outcome? |
| Ahead of the vote, Mr Guaidó said he was confident of having enough support to be re-elected. But on Sunday he and other lawmakers were prevented from entering the National Assembly by the National Guard. | Ahead of the vote, Mr Guaidó said he was confident of having enough support to be re-elected. But on Sunday he and other lawmakers were prevented from entering the National Assembly by the National Guard. |
| Footage showed Mr Guaidó attempting to jump the railing surrounding the building and being pushed back by police with shields. | Footage showed Mr Guaidó attempting to jump the railing surrounding the building and being pushed back by police with shields. |
| Meanwhile, inside the chamber, there were chaotic scenes as government supporters clamoured for the election to go ahead regardless. | Meanwhile, inside the chamber, there were chaotic scenes as government supporters clamoured for the election to go ahead regardless. |
| Eventually, an election was held despite the fact that there were not enough lawmakers for a quorum. | Eventually, an election was held despite the fact that there were not enough lawmakers for a quorum. |
| Luis Parra, a former ally of Mr Guaidó who was expelled from the Justice First opposition party over corruption allegations, was chosen as Speaker by pro-government lawmakers and a number of dissident opposition politicians in a show of hands. | Luis Parra, a former ally of Mr Guaidó who was expelled from the Justice First opposition party over corruption allegations, was chosen as Speaker by pro-government lawmakers and a number of dissident opposition politicians in a show of hands. |
| Mr Guaidó argued that the election was illegitimate and convened opposition lawmakers to a vote at the headquarters of a newspaper. Their tally said 100 of the National Assembly's 167 legislators backed him. | Mr Guaidó argued that the election was illegitimate and convened opposition lawmakers to a vote at the headquarters of a newspaper. Their tally said 100 of the National Assembly's 167 legislators backed him. |
| The US, the European Union, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and many other Latin American countries welcomed Mr Guaidó's re-election and condemned the actions of the National Guard. Russia, a firm ally of President Maduro, took the opposite stance, calling Mr Parra's election "democratic". | The US, the European Union, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and many other Latin American countries welcomed Mr Guaidó's re-election and condemned the actions of the National Guard. Russia, a firm ally of President Maduro, took the opposite stance, calling Mr Parra's election "democratic". |