![President of the National Assembly and Interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaidó speaking at a town meeting in Caracas. [Molina86 / Shutterstock]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d7de472/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x666+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F1%2F29%2FVenezuela.jpg)
There are continued calls for a peaceful solution to the situation in Venezuela, amid mass protests and a tense battle for control of the government. Venezuela's increasingly authoritarian president Nicolas Maduro has overseen hyperinflation, food shortages, and political repression. Opposition leader Juan Guidao has declared himself as president, being recognized by a number of countries including the U.S.
The situation has some Venezuelans in Northeast Ohio on-edge, waiting to see how the situation develops. ideastream spoke to an expatriate of Venezuela who still has several family members in that country. The man is known to the immigrant community in the region but wishes to remain anonymous for the safety of his family. He is able to contact his family members in Venezuela frequently but says the goverment there tracks all communication.
He sees a path for peace through Guidao in Venezuela, but says anything can happen in the country, including bloodshed. He believes the key for Guidao is international support and keeping his promise to hold democratic elections within 30 days.
He also says this is not a coup, and as head of the Venezuelan assembly, there is a Constitutional provision for Guidao to take over.
