On Thursday, the European Parliament recognized Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaido as the head of state. The situation has now escalated international pressure for Nicolas Maduro.
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The EU governments are divided over whether to recognize Guaido as President or not. The union also agreed to lead an international crisis group with South American nations to seek new elections, setting a 90-day time limit, and threatening further economic sanctions.
EU lawmakers voted 439 in favor to 104 against, with 88 abstentions, at a special session in Brussels to recognize Venezuelan congress head Guaido as interim leader.
Maduro on a rocky road
The European Parliament has declared Guaido as the “the only legitimate interim president” until there were “new free, transparent and credible presidential elections” in a non-binding covenant.
Britain, France, Germany and Spain said on Saturday, however, that they would recognize Guaido unless Maduro called elections within eight days. But the EU as a whole has not set a time limit in its call for a new presidential vote and in its Bucharest meeting did not take a clear position.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said governments including Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy would take part in a so-called international contact group, along with Bolivia, Ecuador and other countries.
Source: Reuters
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