Venezuela's foreign minister has re-taken control over his nation's embassy in Bolivia - removing a portrait of presidential pretender Juan Guaidó.
A Twitter video shows Jorge Arreaza taking Guaidó's photo from the wall and placing it face-down on the floor, before replacing it with a portrait of 19th-century national liberation hero Simón Bolívar - to applause from those present.
"With great pride we report that Chávez and Bolívar have returned to the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in Bolivia," Arreaza tweeted on Monday. He declared that Guaidó and his ilk "will not return!"
— Cancillería Venezuela 🇻🇪 (@CancilleriaVE) November 9, 2020
The late Hugo Chávez, leader of the united Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) served as president of Venezuela from 1999 to 2013, founding the present 'Bolivarian Republic' in honour of Bolívar, who defeated Spanish colonial forces to win independence for several countries in South America. Bolivia itself is named in honour of Bolívar.
One journalist noted the symbolism of Guaidó being consigned to the "dustbin of history". Another said Bolivar's portrait should never have been removed.
— Érika Ortega Sanoja (@ErikaOSanoja) November 9, 2020
— Luigino Bracci Roa (@lubrio) November 9, 2020
New Bolivian President Luís Arce, leader of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) was sworn in on Sunday. He won a landslide victory in the October 18 election less than a year after his party comrade Evo Morales, a long-time ally of Chávez and Maduro, was ousted in a military coup d'etat.
