BROADCASTS.com

b"

Juan Guaid\\xf3 - who recently declared himself Venezuela\\u2019s president - was elected to the National Assembly in 2011 and won the seat of his home state in 2016. But he only really came to prominence more recently when he was picked to head Venezuela's parliament, the National Assembly.

US President Donald Trump has recognised Guaid\\xf3 as the country\\u2019s legitimate leader - as has Canada, Brazil, Australia and the European parliament - but, for now, Nicol\\xe1s Maduro is showing no signs of giving way.

In this edition of Profile Edward Stourton traces Guaid\\xf3\\u2019s life and hears from his family, friends and those who have followed his career. Guaid\\xf3 grew up in the beachside state of Vargas where his family survived the horrendous 1999 mudslide tragedy. Juan\\u2019s mother, Norka Marquez, tells Edward how her family lost everything in that disaster.

Producer: Darin Graham