France, Spain and other EU countries recognize President Guaidó after defeating Maduro's ultimatum

CARACAS (AFP) .- After winning the
eight-day ultimatum that the

European Union

(EU)
agent of

Venezuela,

Nicolás Maduro,

call for elections in the context of the fierce crisis raging in the country and after the presidential have been denounced as fraudulent, France, Sweden, Spain and other countries of the bloc have already recognized the President of the National Assembly of the Opposition,

Juan Guaidó,

as president in charge.

In an interview broadcast yesterday with a Spanish network,
Maduro rejected the European ultimatum. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said this morning that Guaidó "has the legitimacy to hold presidential elections" and added that he would consult other European countries on their recognition. .

Given the "refusal of President Maduro to hold presidential elections of nature to clarify, calm the situation in Venezuela (…), we consider that Guaidó has the capacity, the legitimacy necessary to hold presidential elections", said and said: "There are a lot of refugees, there is oppression, there is appalling inflation, the city is on the street."

After the statement by the Government official of

Emmanuel Macron,

Sweden has also recognized Guaidó as the authority of the Venezuelan government and has pleaded for a political and peaceful solution. "In this situation, we support and consider Guaidó as a legitimate interim president," said Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, according to news reports.
The world.

The United Kingdom was another bloc member who supported the opposition. In social networks, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced support for Guaidó in London: "Nicolas Maduro has not called the presidential elections within the eight-day deadline we have set. Uni and the European Allies now recognize @jguaido as Acting Constitutional President until the holding of credible elections.We hope this will bring us closer to the end of the humanitarian crisis. "

Spain has also spoken about it today. The president of the government, Pedro Sanchez, seemed to do what he did not want to do: recognize Guaidó as president in charge, although the scope of the call for elections was limited.

In a brief statement, the Socialist stressed that the recognition – which implies not knowing Maduro – had the character of "president in charge" and was intended to call elections "as soon as possible". He insisted that the position was "agreed" with the EU and that Madrid was committed to "multilateralism" for conflict resolution.

Sánchez's step may have complicated his internal position, given Podemos' reluctance, his parliamentary ally, to adopt a similar position before Maduro. The radical left group has close ties to the Maduro government and was one of the most reluctant to question it.

Similarly, Angela Merkel followed her Spanish counterpart and, in Tokyo, the German Chancellor said that she recognized Guaidó as interim president and responsible for organizing new elections as soon as possible. "Guaidó is the person we are talking to and we hope to start an electoral process as soon as possible, he is the legitimate interim president for this task from the German point of view and also from the point of view of many European partners", he said at a press conference. during a visit to Tokyo.

For its part, Denmark was one of the first Europeans to demonstrate about Venezuela. His Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen wrote yesterday on Twitter: "I just spoke to Guaidó and I expressed Denmark's full support for the Venezuelan people's struggle for democracy, a good conversation with an incredible man and courageous possibility for the corrupt regime of Maduro to choose the path of democracy ".

President in charge

Guaidó, 35, was sworn in as president on 23 January after the US Congress declared Maduro "usurper" after taking a second term on January 10, which he considers illegitimate – within the framework of the international community – to following "fraudulent" elections.

Today, in defiance of Maduro, the opposition is preparing the device for the arrival of humanitarian aid in the country, which bolivarino considers as the door to a military intervention of the United States. According to Guaidó, a "national and international coalition of three drug and food collection centers" will be created in Colombia and Brazil, neighboring countries, and on a Caribbean island.

The leader of the Parliament, which holds a majority of opposition, announced that there would also be a mobilization to ask the army to let in this aid.

For their part, more and more members of the armed forces broke away from Maduro and demanded the return of democracy in the country, while the successor of Chávez gave a speech in recent hours to deny the facts They are more faithful as ever.

Guaidó was already recognized by the United States, Canada, Argentina, many countries of Latin America and Australia.

With the collaboration of Silvia Pisani, Correspondent of Spain