Interim government of Pedro Carmona

The Government of Pedro Carmona was the de facto government installed after the overthrow of Hugo Chávez in 2002.

The Act of Constitution of the Government of Democratic Transition and National Unity was promulgated, which dissolved the national public powers and concentrated all power in Carmona.^[1]

Carmona's government was recognized by Colombia, El Salvador, Spain and the United States.^[2][3][4] It was not recognized by Argentina and Cuba.

Chávez had described Carmona as "straightforward and low-key – until schemers manipulated him".^[5]

Andrés Pastrana in Colombia called Pedro Carmona to offer him "the full support and express solidarity of the Colombian people in this transition process".^[6] El Salvador also recognized him as the legitimate president^[6] as did the Bush administration in the United States, which blamed Hugo Chávez for the events, considering that Chávez had resigned and therefore Carmona's assumption of power could not be a coup d'état.^[7]

Carmona, described by The Miami Herald as "president for a day" told the newspaper that his acceptance of that position was, in the Herald's paraphrase, "as a spontaneous act of bravery, not the result of a monthslong conspiracy". "I was not involved in any conspiracy", Carmona said. "I cannot accept any conjecture or soap operas. I categorically deny it."^[8]

The Chicago Tribune said Carmona was "a buttoned-down businessman and economist who has degrees from Caracas' Andres Bello Catholic University and the University of Brussels" and who "has an international reputation, having represented Venezuelan commercial and diplomatic missions abroad".^[9]

Describing Carmona as "a bookish economist" who had worked with the Foreign Ministry and "run a variety of trade associations", The Washington Post said that one reason he was chosen as interim president "was that he was one of the few people who didn't want the job". One condition imposed by the coup-makers was that the interim president would not be able to run for president in elections several months later, and those who really wanted the long-term position therefore took themselves out of the running for the interim post.^[10]

Carmona was succeeded by Diosdado Cabello, vice president during Chávez's previous administration, after being sworn in by the National Assembly. Cabello then returned power to Hugo Chávez , restoring his second term. Carmona resigned, was arrested, and later fled the country, seeking asylum in Colombia.^[11]

• Interim government of Juan Guaidó, later anti-Chavismo rival government in Venezuela