Recognize Guaidó

EU countries recognize Guaidó as Venezuela’s president

President Nicolás Maduro rejected the EU’s Sunday deadline to call a snap election.

By PAUL DALLISON

France, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and other European countries have officially recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.

The coordinated move comes after President Nicolás Maduro rejected the EU's Sunday deadline to call a snap election.

Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, said: “The people of Venezuela have suffered enough. It is time for a new start, with free and fair elections in accordance with international democratic standards," the Guardian reported.

“The oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime must end. Those who continue to violate the human rights of ordinary Venezuelans under an illegitimate regime will be called to account. The Venezuelan people deserve a better future.”

According to the BBC, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters: “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 recognizes Mr. Guaidó, the president of the Venezuelan assembly, as Venezuela’s caretaker president.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said Venezuelans had the right to "express themselves freely and democratically."

Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Tokyo early Monday that her government would recognize Guaidó, with the foreign office later committing to deploying modest relief funding.

“We remain concerned about the people in Venezuela who are suffering as a result of severe shortages,” said Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. “Germany will provide funding of €5 million for humanitarian assistance in Venezuela as soon as the political conditions in the country allow this.”

Seven EU states had given Maduro until Sunday to call elections, and if he failed to do so they would recognize Guaidó as the country’s interim leader.