The UK assesses the imposition of new sanctions against the Chavez regime: "Maduro must leave"

Britain is considering options, including sanctions, to bring peace and democracy to Venezuela, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday: "Venezuelans deserve a better future, they have suffered enough and the Maduro regime should It's time to have free and fair elections ".

"We badyze the additional measures we can take to guarantee peace and democracy in Venezuela, including through sanctions."he added.

"The oppression of Maduro's illegitimate and kleptocratic regime must stop, "said the British Chancellor in a statement after the expiry of the eight-day deadline given by several European countries to the Venezuelan president to call new elections.

"Those who continue to violate the human rights of ordinary Venezuelan citizens under an illegitimate regime will be called to account. The Venezuelan people deserve a better future, "he added. Spain, France and Germany have made similar announcements.

In an effort to drive Maduro out of power on January 23, the opposition leader Juan Guaidó, president of the Assembly of Venezuela, was sworn in as "acting president" of the country. It has been immediately recognized by the United States and many Latin American countries and has received support from several European capitals.

Madrid, London, Paris and Berlin had united to demand the immediate convening of new elections, calling the former presidential election illegal and fraudulent.

But Maduro refused to hold presidential elections and only suggested a parliamentary advance, scheduled for 2020, which provoked on Monday the recognition of Guaidó.

"Let's hope this brings us closer to the end of the humanitarian crisis," Hunt said. "The Venezuelan people have already suffered enough, it is time to make a fresh start, with free and fair elections in line with international democratic standards," he added.

With information from Reuters and AFP