The United Kingdom along with other European nations, including Spain, France and Sweden, have recognised Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim President after embattled President Nicolas Maduro failed to announce fresh Presidential elections by Sunday.
“Nicolas Maduro has not called Presidential elections within the 8 day limit we have set. So the UK alongside European allies now recognises @jguaido as interim constitutional president until credible elections can be held. Let’s hope this takes us closer to ending humanitarian crisis,” Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted on Monday.
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The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez recognised the government. “I recognise as President-in-Charge of Venezuela a @jguaido, with a clear horizon: the call for free, Democratic presidential elections, with guarantees and without exclusions. I won’t take a step back. For freedom, democracy and concord in #Venezuela” he tweeted in Spanish.
Reconozco como presidente encargado de Venezuela a @jguaido, con un horizonte claro: la convocatoria de elecciones presidenciales libres, democráticas, con garantías y sin exclusiones.
No daré ni un paso atrás.
Por la libertad, la democracia y la concordia en #Venezuela— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 4, 2019
“Venezuelans have the right to express themselves freely and democratically. France recognises @jguaido as “president in charge” to implement an electoral process. We support the contact group, created with the EU, in this transitional period,” French President, Emmanuel Macron said.
Les Vénézuéliens ont le droit de s’exprimer librement et démocratiquement. La France reconnaît @jguaido comme « président en charge » pour mettre en œuvre un processus électoral. Nous soutenons le Groupe de contact, créé avec l’UE, dans cette période de transition.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 4, 2019
Other countries also followed suit. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Kurz said on Twitter that Austria supported efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela, where he said there was an absence of the rule of law.
“Denmark recognises the President of the National Assembly … until new free and democratic elections take place,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen tweeted ahead of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels. “Applaud similar statements from key EU partners. Important EU statement coming up.”
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On Sunday Maduro said on Sunday that he would not give into ultimatums. He has so far rejected calls by European countries to call an early election. He has offered to call early parliamentary elections instead.
Guaido, who leads the Opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself the temporary leader on January 23 in a move that has split global powers.
Trump immediately recognised him and European Union nations backed Guaido, though some have been nervous over the global precedent of a self-declaration.
Russia and China support Maduro.
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