Spain, Britain, France and other EU nations on Monday recognised Venezuela’s Opposition chief Juan Guaido as interim leader after President Nicolas Maduro defiantly rejected an ultimatum to call snap elections.
Russia, one of the main allies of Maduro’s regime, slammed what it dubbed European “interference” in the oil-rich but impoverished Latin American country, saying it was an attempt “to legitimise usurped power.”
However, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has flatly rejected a call by European countries to call snap elections after Opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the Latin American country’s interim leader.
Maduro said in an interview on Sunday with Spanish television station Sexta that he would not “cave in to pressure” from those calling for his departure. Already recognised by the United States, Canada, Australia and several Latin American countries, Guaido is trying to force the socialist leader from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new elections.
After announcing the Spanish Government’s official recognition of Guaido, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged the 35-year-old National Assembly head to “call elections as soon as possible, elections that have to be free and democratic”.
Sanchez added he wanted to spearhead a plan of humanitarian aid for Venezuela in the European Union and United Nations. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt promptly followed suit, saying on Twitter he hoped “this takes us closer to ending humanitarian crisis.” France, Austria, Sweden and Denmark also recognised Guaido.
“Venezuelans have the right to express themselves freely and democratically,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted. Seven EU States had given Maduro a Sunday midnight deadline to call presidential elections or they would recognise Guaido. But in an interview with Spanish television station Sexta broadcast on Sunday evening, Maduro said he would not “cave in to pressure” from those calling for his departure.
“Why does the European Union have to tell a country in the world that has already had elections that it has to repeat its presidential elections, because they were not won by their right-wing allies,” said Maduro, interviewed in Caracas.
“They are trying to corner us with ultimatums to force us into an extreme situation of confrontation,” Maduro said.
However, he supported plans for a meeting of Latin American and EU states in a “Contact Group” meeting in Montevideo next Thursday.
Under Maduro’s stewardship, oil-dependent Venezuela has lurched into an economic crisis that has left the country suffering from hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.
