Nine European Countries recognize Guaido as Venezuelan President

At the same time Italy blocked a joint European Union position to recognize Guaido as president. Nine European nations recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president on Monday. France, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands declared recognition of Guaido as interim leader of Venezuela after they delivered ultimatum to the socialist leader Nicolas Maduro: they demanded new elections in the country within eight days. Maduro, who is accused of dictator and the destruction of the Venezuelan economy, rejected the ultimatum of European countries, saying that they blindly follow the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously recognized Guaido as interim leader of Venezuela. Guaido, who leads the National Assembly, declared himself caretaker leader last month in a move that has fed into a global geopolitical divide and brought Venezuelans onto the streets. At the same time diplomatic sources say that Italy blocked a joint EU statement which supported Guaido calling for “free, fair and democratic presidential elections” in Venezuela. The draft document, which was supposed to be an expression of a common position of the bloc, said that the EU member states individually recognize Guaido as head of the National Assembly and acting president. Ireland also refuses to support Guaido. Asked on Monday whether Ireland would follow other major EU countries in recognizing him, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told reporters: “No, our position has been clear. We want to see free and fair elections for the people to make a democratic decision in Venezuela”. Maduro condemned the decision of European countries to support Guaido. He particularly criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who, like Maduro, was a socialist. In a televised speech that was broadcast live, Maduro said he rejected ultimatums from any country. He also rejected a proposal to send humanitarian aid to Venezuela, stating that his country is not a beggars nation. In the meantime, Guaido, in his Twitter account, thanked European countries for supporting Venezuelans in their struggle for freedom. Trump immediately recognized Guaido as the country’s interim leader, but some EU countries are concerned that this situation creates a dangerous international precedent. Russia and China, which have invested billions of dollars in the Venezuelan economy in the form of investments and loans, took side with Maduro. “From today, we will spare no effort in helping all Venezuelans achieve freedom, prosperity and harmony”, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, calling for fair elections and the provision of humanitarian aid to the country. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that Venezuelans have already endured quite a lot of suffering, and that “the oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime must end”. Source: Voice of America