European Union Ambassador says goodbye to Venezuela after being expelled by Nicolás Maduro dictatorship

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, left Venezuela on Tuesday in silence and three days after the deadline given by the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro to leave the country, after declaring his persona non grata and ordering his expulsion, in response to the sanctions imposed by the community bloc against 19 leaders of the Chavist regime.

“A huge thank you to all Venezuelans for their love, gratitude and affection. I carry you all in so many beautiful memories. My heart stays here. I love you, Venezuela “The diplomat said in a farewell message posted on Twitter after six days of silence.

Brilhante Pedrosa’s expulsion was ordered on February 24 by Maduro himself, who initially granted 72 hours to leave Venezuela and extended until today, at the diplomat’s request.

The decision was expected since the National Assembly (AN), a power in which Chavism exercises an overwhelming majority, urged the executive to expel Brilhante, in response to the community bloc’s sanctions against 19 Venezuelans, These include members of Parliament and regime officials.

It was the second time Maduro had ordered Brilhante to leave Venezuela. The first took place at the end of June 2020 due, once again, to EU sanctions against officials of the Venezuelan dictatorship. But on this occasion, Chavismo overturned the decision three days later.

Community sources in Europe told the agency EFE Last Saturday, the Ambassador was unable to leave the Caribbean country within the time limit “For logistical reasons of which the authorities in power are aware.”

However, from the headquarters of the European institution in Caracas, no date or time of departure has been reported, despite the insistence of the media that followed the work of the ambassador during her stay in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan opposition immediately rejected the expulsion of Brilhante Pedrosa, whom it considers an ally in the defense of human rights in the country.

“We stand in solidarity with the EU Ambassador in Caracas, who has always shown his support (in) human rights and democracy in Venezuela on behalf of Europe”opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is recognized as acting president of Venezuela by more than fifty countries, said on Twitter the same day the expulsion of the diplomat was ordered.

Leopoldo López assured on Tuesday that the dictatorship “forces not only Venezuelans to leave the country, but also those who, whatever their nationality, care about well-being and freedom”. “Thank you Ambassador. We are sure that her work for the good of Venezuelans will follow her wherever she goes. “added the former political prisoner of Chavism in his social networks.

So far, Maduro, nor any other member of the regime has spoken out on his departure from the country, which occurred outside of the media.

In response to the expulsion of your ambassador, Brussels also declared the head of the mission of Venezuela to the EU, Claudia Salerno, persona non grata.

But this decision does not imply the expulsion of the Venezuelan diplomat from Community territory, because Salerno is also the ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg.

With information from EFE

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