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Guaido Ally, Under Spanish Protection, Forming Shadow Venezuelan Cabinet

Martin Arostegui

   MADRID - Venezuela opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez is forming a shadow
   government from his refuge at the Spanish Embassy in Caracas, despite
   an agreement that prohibited him from engaging in political activity
   when the embassy granted him asylum five months ago.

   Lopez sought the protection of Spain's diplomatic mission after he led
   a failed coup against embattled President Nicolas Maduro in April. He
   was backed in the effort by parliamentary president Juan Guaido, who is
   recognized as the transitional head of state by the United States and
   50 other countries.

   Guaido says that he has named Lopez to form a "center of government,"
   or shadow cabinet, to prepare for an eventual takeover by the
   opposition, as U.S. sanctions bite into Maduro's remaining lifelines.

   Spain says the conditions under which they took in Lopez have not
   changed. But Maduro's growing isolation and Venezuela's deteriorating
   economy may be forcing the hand of EU governments, which have been
   trying to broker a deal between Maduro and his opponents on terms for
   new elections.

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