On Sunday, Parra was elected the new speaker, at a session of parliament. President Nicolas Maduro confirmed the parliament had elected Parra, a lawmaker from the Primero Justicia party, as the new speaker for 2020-21. The president claimed that Guaido's supporters had requested that the parliament building be cordoned off during the session, which prevented Guaido from attending. Maduro also said that the opposition's claims about inconsistencies in the voting procedure were not true.
"Despite disagreements and threats, the unity and national interests have prevailed," the National Assembly tweeted featuring a schedule of the legislature's work that included Guaido's name as speaker.
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo was prompt to congratulate Guaido on his 're-election'.
Congratulations to @JGuaido on his re-election to the @AsambleaVE! Arrests, bribes and blocking access to its building were unable to derail #Venezuela’s National Assembly. Only a transitional government organizing free and fair presidential elections can end the crisis.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 6, 2020
In early 2019, Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela, following months of anti-government protests. Maduro nonetheless retained power despite longstanding and endemic economic and social turmoil in the country.
