The United Kingdom (UK) along with other European nations, including Sweden, France, and Spain have finally recognized the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of the country after the elected legitimate president Nicolas Maduro failed to announce a fresh presidential election by February 3, according to ANI news reports.
Britain’s foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, on Monday, tweeted: “Nicolas Maduro has not called Presidential elections within 8-day limit we have set. So the UK alongside European allies now recognizes @jguaido as interim constitutional president until credible elections can be held. Let’s hope this takes us closer to ending a humanitarian crisis.”
Nicolas 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
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) February 4, 2019
Furthermost, Spain too extended its full support to Guaido along with its Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted a tweet in his national language Spanish: “I recognize as president in charge of Venezuela Guaido with a clear horizon: the call for free, democratic presidential elections, with guarantees and without exclusions. I will not take a step back. For freedom, democracy, and Concord in Venezuela.”
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
Further, France too recognized Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela and noted that Maduro had the power to conduct elections in the Latin American country.
French President Emmanuel Macron also tweeted on Monday: “Venezuelans have the rights to express themselves freely and democratically. France recognizes Guaido as ‘president in charger” to implement an electoral process. We support the contact group, created with the EU, in this transition period.”
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
Just after minutes, Austria, Sweden, and Denmark joined to the growing list; Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom told state-run Radio “in this situation we support and consider Guaido as a legitimate interim president”. Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, in a tweet, wrote that Guaido “can rely on our full support in his efforts to re-establish democracy in Venezuela, which has been suffering too long from poor governance and the absence of the rule of law”.
European nation’s declarations came after an eight-day ultimatum to Venezuelan president Maduro for holding a fresh presidential election in the country, which has expired on Sunday.
However, Maduro has repeatedly refused to step down from his post. Nations like China and Russia have, however, slammed the United States for their interference in Venezuelan internal affairs and have extended full support to Maduro as the legitimate president of the country.