Welcome to pushback. I'm Erin Mate. The Trump administration's more than year-long

coup attempt in Venezuela has failed to overthrow President Nicholas Maduro. And now, facing increased

global calls to lift its crippling murderous sanctions on Venezuela during the coronavirus pandemic,

the White House has unveiled a new approach.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls it the, quote,

framework for a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela.

Broadly speaking, it would put the elected members of the National Assembly representing

both sides would create an acceptable council of state to serve as the transitional government

until presidential and national assembly elections could be held.

We hope within six to 12 months.

The president of the transitional government would not be able to run for president in those

elections.

Both Nicholas Maduro and Juan Guido would accept the Council of State as the sole executive

during this transitional period.

If the conditions of the framework are met, including the departure of foreign security forces,

and elections deemed free and fair by international observers,

then all remaining U.S. sanctions would be lifted.

Pompeo also threatened to increase sanctions on Venezuela

unless Maduro steps down.

This so-called framework for democracy comes days

after the Trump administration ramped up its coup effort in Venezuela

with narco charges and multi-million dollar bounties against Maduro and other top Venezuelan

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