Guaido ousts advisers after botched coup attempt
Venezuela's US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido has forced two political advisers to resign following a bungled attempt to topple Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The fallout from the 3-4 May episode has overtaken the opposition agenda, including an initiative to overhaul the Opec member's national oil industry, and has aggravated discord in Guaido's opposition coalition.
Guaido, who is partially recognized abroad as Venezuela's interim president, said he accepted the resignations of his Miami-based political advisers Juan Jose Rendon and Voluntad Popular (VP) party National Assembly deputy Sergio Vergara, thanking them for their "dedication and commitment" to their country.
Guaido has said he was not involved in the coastal incursions by Venezuelan military deserters that were organized by US mercenaries.
In a televised interview, Rendon said the operation was among the options that had been explored and confirmed the authenticity of what was described as a preliminary contract with Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp, headed by US military veteran Jordan Goudreau. The opposition has not denied allegations Guaido signed the contract.
Guaido's US envoy Carlos Vecchio confirmed the preliminary contacts between the strategic team and Silvercorp. But he said the discussions were cut off in 2019 and asserted that Maduro infiltrated the operation.
A Guaido aide said Rendon and Vergara "sacrificed themselves" to spare the opposition leader from "further embarrassment." But some members of Guaido's political opposition are saying privately that their departure does not go far enough.
In an 8 May statement, Primero Justicia (PJ), a party led by Guaido's shadow foreign minister Julio Borges, called for removing anyone involved in the operation, while "reestablishing the mechanisms of decision-making" to respect opposition unity.
"We worry that energies are put into the creation of a bureaucratic caste and not into political change," PJ said, adding that the National Assembly must carry out an independent investigation to establish responsibilities for the episode.
The US administration, Guaido's leading international patron, has repeatedly denied any direct ties to the debacle, but it has not condemned the incursions.
"This was not an American effort. This was not something that we directed or guided," US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in televised interview today. "It was not us who conducted this little activity a few days ago now."
The government of Colombia, where the former Venezuelan soldiers had trained, has also dismissed Maduro's accusations of involvement.
In foiling the operation, Venezuelan security forces killed eight suspects and detained more than 30 others, including two US special forces veterans.
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US services contract in June, signal broad weakening
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Mexico economy showing 'timid growth': IMEF
Mexico economy showing 'timid growth': IMEF
Mexico City, 3 July (Argus) — Indicators of Mexico's non-manufacturing and manufacturing sectors suggested the economy recovered "some dynamism" in June, while maintaining the slow pace of growth of the second quarter, according to domestic financial association IMEF. "The trend suggested by the IMEF indicators suggest a moderate growth for the second quarter of the year," IMEF said. "The economy finds itself in an evident pause compared with the solid dynamism observed during 2022 and a large part of 2023." Manufacturing "stagnated" in the second quarter, it said. "It is very probable that economic activity will undergo additional slowdown in the second half of the year that will extend into 2025." IMEF's June manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) increased by 0.4 points to 49.5 points, still beneath the 50-point breakeven that shows contraction. This has been the third consecutive month of contraction. PMI adjusted to compensate for variations in company size was more positive, growing by 0.8 points to 51.2 in June, the group said. Manufacturing accounts for about a fifth of the Mexican economy. The non-manufacturing PMI, which covers the lion's share of the economy, rose by 0.6 points to 51 in June, marking a 29th month of expansion, IMEF said. Adjusted for company size, the headline services PMI rose by 0.9 to 5.18. Economic activity in Mexico continues to surprise downwards. After growth came in at an annual 1.6pc in the first quarter from a year earlier, the first data for April showed a monthly contraction of 0.6pc, IMEF said. Headwinds and tailwinds IMEF representatives highlighted growing market uncertainty following the Mexican election and ahead of the US presidential election in November. On the upside, said IMEF, Mexico should benefit from continued strength in the US economy, adding the incoming administration looks to bring down the current fiscal deficit, which is equal to 5.9pc of GDP. It will not reach the government's 3pc target for the budget coming out in November, but progress is expected with next year's budget and moving forward. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Nigerian Dangote refinery seeks more US WTI crude
Nigerian Dangote refinery seeks more US WTI crude
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Oman's Duqm refinery on track to run above capacity
Oman's Duqm refinery on track to run above capacity
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