Germany, Spain and France invite Maduro to call elections in eight days

Germany, France and Spain today convened controversial Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to hold elections within eight days and warned that otherwise they will recognize the leader of the party. opposition Juan Guaidó as acting head of state.

"The people of Venezuela must be able to choose their future freely and safely," said Vice President of the German Government Martina Fietz via the social network Twitter.

In case of non-election, "we are willing to recognize Juan Guaidó as interim president," he continued. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman said Germany was working closely with its European partners.

At the same time and in similar terms, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, took the floor.

"We are not seeking to establish or overthrow governments, we want democracy and free elections in Venezuela, but in any case, if in eight days no call for fair, free, transparent and democratic elections is launched, Spain will recognize @jguaido as president of Venezuela, "he said. Sánchez on Twitter.

The name of Maduro has not been mentioned, but the current Venezuelan head of state and the National Electoral Council are the only ones who can leave the way open to new elections.

Maduro began his new term as head of Venezuela a little less than two weeks ago. Its critics accuse it of making the country an autocracy, especially after stripping away the power of the opposition-dominated National Assembly (parliament).

The Speaker of Parliament, Juan Guaidó, declared Wednesday acting president of Venezuela. Guaidó has called another demonstration against Maduro for next week.

Russian criticism

The Russian Foreign Ministry has only taken note of the "identical and simultaneous" statements of Paris, Madrid and Berlin on its intention to recognize as president of Venezuela the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, if the next eight days, no election is announced in the Caribbean country.

Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zajarova said Russia had offered mediation on Friday between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, after Guaidó proclaimed himself "president in charge" of the country, in a gesture that Moscow rejected. with Nicolás Maduro.

"We have stated that if our mediation is necessary, we would be prepared," said Alexander Schetinin, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Russian Sputnik.

Russia is one of Venezuela's main allies today and is one of the few countries that have declared themselves in defense of Maduro after the step taken by Guaidó, recognized by the vast majority of countries in the region, United States and Canada