USA: Pompeo comments on plan for transitional Venezuelan govt without Guaido or Maduro

W/S US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arriving at press briefing in Washington DC
SOT, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State: "I want to just set out the framework for this Pathway to Democracy. Broadly speaking, it would put the elected members a national assembly representing both sides, would create an acceptable council of state to serve as a transitional government until presidential and National Assembly elections could be held, we hope within six to twelve months. The president of the transitional government would not be able to run for president in those elections. Both Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido 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 US sanctions would be lifted. We've got the full text. You can see the agreement on our website. We hope that every Venezuelan will consider this framework carefully, thoughtfully and seriously. We think it presents an opportunity for the Venezuelan people."
SOT, journalist: "What future do you see for Guido? Is this new framework a recognition that he hasn't caught fire?"
SOT, Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State: "I think he's the most popular politician in Venezuela. I think if there were an election held today, I think he'd do incredibly well. But more importantly, we continue to support him. When we put together this Pathway to Democracy, we worked closely with him to where, how it is we're presenting this. We all, Juan Guaido and his entire team, understand that Nicolas Maduro must go. We must get this democracy started. We have now introduced this pathway to achieve that. We continue to remain enormously supportive of the work that the rightful president of the Venezuelan people, Juan Guaido is engaged in."
M/S Journalist asking question
SOT, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State: "Well, we hope he'll take it seriously and consider it just just as we have. We've made clear all along that Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela and that hasn't changed."
W/S Mike Pompeo leaving press briefing
SCRIPT
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained his government's plan for a political transition in Venezuela during a press briefing in Washington DC on Tuesday.
The transition plan, called 'Pathway to Democracy,' would set up a council of state who would act as a transitional government until elections could be held "we hope within six to twelve months."
"Both Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido 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 US sanctions would be lifted," said Pompeo.
Allies of both incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido would be represented under this transitional government.
"We hope that every Venezuelan will consider this framework carefully, thoughtfully and seriously. We think it presents an opportunity for the Venezuelan people," he added.
Venezuela has been rocked by a major political and economic crisis ever since the re-election of Maduro in May 2018.
The election outcome was widely disputed both in Venezuela and abroad with over 50 countries recognizing Guaido as the president of the country instead.