Venezuela's Supreme Court suspended Juan Guaido's leadership of the Popular Will party, replacing him with a rival faction led by Jose Gregorio Noriega, a lawmaker aligned with opposition figure Luis Parra. The ruling marks the second time this year the court has invalidated leadership of major opposition groups, targeting Justice First and Democratic Action earlier this month.
The court's decision allows the new leadership to assume control of the party's electoral slate, branding, and symbols. Guaido, recognized by the U.S. and 60 nations as interim president, had declared himself caretaker leader in 2019 after alleging fraud in Nicolas Maduro's re-election. His faction's challenge to Maduro's 22-year socialist rule remains a central element of the nation's political crisis.
Parra, who broke from Guaido over corruption allegations in a government nutrition program, recently contested Guaido's parliamentary speaker role. The opposition coalition, including Popular Will, has vowed to boycott December's elections, calling them illegitimate after the court appointed a new National Electoral Commission board without legislative approval.
