The consultation of the Venezuelan opposition will take place from 5 to 12 December

The Venezuelan opposition has set 12 December as the date for an on-site vote in which it will ask citizens, among other things, whether they support "all the pressure mechanisms" for organising elections, although it will be possible to vote virtually from a week earlier.

This was stated by the vice-president of the National Assembly (NA, Parliament), Juan Pablo Guanipa, in an interview with Radio Caracas Radio (RCR), according to a brief statement from his office. "The consultation is face-to-face, virtual and itinerant," said Guanipa, vice-president on a directive headed by Juan Guaidó, who is recognised by 50 countries as interim president.

Thus, from 5 to 12, the digital platform will be available for those who wish to participate remotely, according to the legislator, who added that "a mechanism is being established to guarantee the identity of the people.

This consultation includes asking Venezuelans if they support "all the national and international pressure mechanisms so that, within the framework of the Constitution, free, fair and verifiable presidential and parliamentary elections are held.

In a second section, Venezuelans will be consulted on whether or not to reject the legislative elections called for December 6, in which the bulk of the opposition will not participate because they are considered fraudulent, "or for any other date, as long as there are no conditions for free elections.

The call for this consultation does not, however, include any questions about Guaidó's own "interim presidency", which he held on to after a personal reading of the Constitution that allowed him to be in charge for 30 days, as president of the NA.

The Venezuelan parliament ends its mandate on 5 January 2021, so that his role could be considered over, something on which Guaidó has not made any pronouncements. He assumed the "interim presidency" on 23 January 2019, which, according to the Constitution, should have ended on 23 February 2019.

The convening of this consultation and the unity around it has generated numerous criticisms among the opposition itself.

Another opposition leader, María Corina Machado, rejected Guaidó's proposals, including the consultation, on 29 August and said she would reject "any agenda of distraction disguised as unity".

Many critics have reminded Guaidó that Parliament organised a consultation in 2017 in which they asked citizens whether they rejected the formation of a Constituent Assembly and whether they agreed to ask the armed forces to defend the 1999 Magna Carta.

It also asked the participants if they approved the renewal of public powers and the calling of free elections to form "a government of national union to restore constitutional order".

Machado and other leaders have asked to endorse the results of that consultation which were favourable to the opposition interests, instead of calling a second one.