European Countries recognise Juan Guaidó as interim President in Venezuela
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European countries including Spain, France, the UK, Sweden and Denmark have recognised Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela in a coordinated move made after a deadline for Nicolás Maduro to call presidential elections expired.
“Given that we’ve got to today and Maduro’s regime hasn’t taken any steps whatsoever towards [calling elections], the government of Spain announces that it officially recognises Mr Guaidó, the president of the Venezuelan assembly, as the president in charge of Venezuela,” Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, told reporters at the Moncloa palace in Madrid.
Jeremy Hunt, the UK foreign secretary, wrote on Twitter: “Nicolás Maduro has not called presidential elections within 8 day limit we have set. So 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.”
Seven EU states had given Maduro until Sunday to call elections, failing which they would recognise 35-year-old Guaidó, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly, as the country’s interim leader.
Sánchez said Spain was committed to defending the rights of the Venezuelan people, adding there were “very deep” ties that bound his country to Latin America. “From today, we will carry on dedicating all our efforts to the task of helping to bring freedom, prosperity and harmony to all Venezuelans,” he said.
The prime minister added that the decision to recognise Guaidó was intended to bring about the holding of “free, democratic” elections as soon as possible – “elections that will allow the Venezuelan people to use their voice and their vote to decide their own future without, fear, threats or pressure”.
The French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France Inter radio station Guaido had “the capacity and the legitimacy” to organise a presidential election.
