Today, as Nick Schifrin reports, the U.S. and more than a half-a-dozen other countries recognized Juan Guaido, currently the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, as the country's legitimate president.

今天，由尼克．西弗林報導，美國及其他多國已承認委內瑞拉現任國會議長胡安．瓜伊多為該國的合法總統。

On a stage in downtown Caracas, in front of a crowd of thousands, 35-year-old Juan Guaido raised his right hand and administered his own oath of office.

在 (首都) 卡拉卡斯市區的講台上，面對著台下上千名群眾，現年 35 歲的胡安．瓜伊多高舉他的右手、宣誓就職。

I swear to formally assume the powers of the national executive as the president in charge of Venezuela.

我宣誓正式就職為委內瑞拉總統。

Around the capital and country today, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Venezuelans rallied in support of Guaido and called for a change in government.

今日在首都周圍和全國境內，數十萬、或許數百萬的委內瑞拉人集會支持瓜伊多，呼籲政府改組。

That is why we are here, to support our National Assembly, the only legitimate power for the 14 million Venezuelans.

我們之所以在這裡，是為了支持我們的國會——唯一能代表 1400 萬委內瑞拉人民的法定權力。

Nuns demanded freedom, and other protesters demanded President Nicolas Maduro step down.

修女呼籲自由，其他的抗議者要求總統尼古拉斯．馬杜洛下台。

Your time is up, and your Cabinet's.

你的時間已經到了，你的內閣也是。

Understand this: Venezuela has outgrown you.

理解這點 : 委內瑞拉不再需要你了。

Venezuelans have protested before, but this time the usually fractured opposition has a consensus leader.

委內瑞拉人從前也曾抗議過，但這一次反對派不再群龍無首，他們有了一個一致的領導人。

Until recently, Guaido was relatively unknown.

瓜伊多直到最近才比較為人熟知。

But he has crisscrossed the country speaking against Maduro, asking for support from the international community, and Venezuela's powerful military.

但他在過去一直穿梭於國內，出言對抗馬杜洛，要求國際以及委內瑞拉強大軍隊的支持。

We are not asking you to mount a coup, or to shoot.

我們並不是在請求你們發起軍事政變，或是發動射擊。

On the contrary, we are asking you not to shoot at us, and defend together with us the right of our people to be heard.

正好相反，我們在請求你們和我們同一陣線，和我們一同捍衛人民的權利。

His calls have been heard.

而他的呼籲也被大眾所接受。

On Monday, National Guardsmen posted cell phone videos declaring Maduro illegitimate and calling for protests.

在週一，國民衛兵發佈了一則手機影片，聲明馬杜洛無正當性，呼籲反抗。

MIKE PENCE, Vice President of the United States: We say to all the good people of Venezuela, estamos con ustedes.

麥克．彭斯，美國副總統 : 委內瑞拉的所有人民，我們與你們同在。

Yesterday, Vice President Pence promised the U.S. would be with the protesters.

昨日，副總統彭斯承諾美國將會和反抗派同一陣線。

And today, in a statement, President Trump endorsed Guaido as interim president and said: "The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law."

而在今日，總統川普發表聲明公開支持瓜伊多為臨時總統，並且表示 :「委內瑞拉的人民英勇地反抗馬杜洛與其政權，並要求自由以及法治。」

MOISES RENDON, Center for Strategic and International Studies: This is one of the most historic days for Venezuelan modern history.

摩伊西斯．藍東，戰略與國際研究中心 : 這是委內瑞拉現代歷史上最具歷史性的時刻。

Moises Rendon is an associate director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

摩伊西斯．藍東是戰略與國際研究中心的副理事。

He says Guaido's announcement today, and President Trump's endorsement, allows the U.S. to redirect payments for Venezuelan oil, which accounts for 90 percent of Venezuela's GDP.

他表示今日瓜伊多的宣佈以及總統川普的公開承認，使美國得以重導委內瑞拉的石油收入，那就佔了委內瑞拉國內生產總值的九成。

Every single asset, every single bank account, every single contract, all the management of this republic's assets will be transferred to the National Assembly and to Juan Guaido.

每一項資產、每一個銀行帳戶、每一份合約，該國的所有資產的掌控都將被轉移給國會和胡安．瓜伊多。

But Maduro is pushing back.

但馬杜洛也在反擊。

Today, he cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S., and gave U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.

今天，他切斷了和美國的外交關係，並且要求美國外交官 72 小時內離開該國。

NICOLAS MADURO, Venezuelan President: Do not trust the gringo empire.

尼古拉斯．馬杜洛，委內瑞拉總統 : 別相信那些外國佬政權。

The gringos do not have friends, nor are they loyal to anyone.

那群老外沒有盟友，他們也不忠於任何人。

The gringos have interests, Venezuelan oil, Venezuelan gas, Venezuelan gold.

老外只對我們的石油、天然氣、黃金感興趣。

But, to that empire, we say that oil, that gas, that gold is not yours.

但，我要和那些帝國說，這些石油、天然氣、黃金都不是你們的。

It was just two weeks ago Maduro was inaugurated and swore to build what he called 21st century socialism.

不過就在兩週前，馬杜洛進行就職典禮，宣誓要建立他所謂的「21 世紀社會主義」。

But he has built an economic catastrophe.

但他卻建立了一個經濟大災難。

Venezuela used to be Latin America's wealthiest country.

委內瑞拉曾經是拉丁美洲最富有的國家。

Caracas residents have demanded access to a supermarket, even if the shelves were empty because of a shortage of food.

卡拉卡斯居民要求進入超市，即使架上都是空的，因為食物短缺。

Medical patients have protested a shortage of medicine.

病患抗議藥物短缺。

And children play in the dark because of a shortage of power.

而小孩子在黑暗中玩耍，因為電力匱乏。

It's been an economic freefall, the product of falling oil prices and failed economic policies.

因為石油價格下跌和失敗的經濟政策，經濟直落谷底。

Bills have became so worthless, women turned them into art.

紙鈔幾乎一文不值，婦女們把它拿來做藝術品。

Inflation could hit 10 million percent.

通貨膨脹可能來到百分之一千萬。

All of it sparked the region's largest ever exodus.

這所有的一切促使境內發生有史以來最大的出逃。

More than 3.5 million Venezuelans have fled their homes and created a humanitarian crisis that increased regional criminality.

超過 350 萬委內瑞拉人逃離了他們的家，造成人道危機，增加了境內的犯罪率。

It represents a humanitarian and a security crisis; the region that is impacting not only neighboring countries, but like the U.S. as well.

它代表了人道和安全危機，這不只會衝擊到鄰國，美國也包含在內。

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Maduro and his leadership.

美國已經對馬杜洛和他的領導權進行制裁。

U.S. officials say, depending on Maduro's response today, they could impose an oil export embargo that would likely collapse the state.

美國官方表示，取決於馬杜洛今天的回應，他們可以下令石油禁運，該國極有可能因此瓦解。

Instead, U.S. officials hope Maduro heeds the protests, and the military withdraws its support.

不過美國官方希望馬杜洛聽取抗議聲浪，並希望軍隊不再支持他。

Maduro will fight, but he faces a perfect storm of economic pressure, international condemnation, a popular opponent, and the mobilization of his own people.

馬杜洛將會回擊，不過他面臨著一場風暴，夾雜了經濟壓力、國際斥責、民眾反對、以及他自己同胞的組織動員。

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Nick Schifrin.

以上是 PBS 新聞時刻，我是尼克．西弗林。