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MADRID – Sunday, the ultimatum launched to Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, by European countries to admit the organization of new presidential elections in the country, acknowledged Monday the opposition seven members of the 28 Member States of the European Union Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela. Spain was the first country to formally support the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, followed by the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, France, Austria and Spain. l & # 39; Germany.
Europeans insist that Maduro agree to a new presidential election in order to get out of the crisis in this country of South America. With the announcements of today, 26 governments already recognize Mr. Guaidó as interim president. But unlike the United States, Brazil and the 16 other states that had already recognized Guaidó shortly after his proclamation to the presidency with the support of the National Assembly on January 23, the Europeans insisted that the leader of the the opposition will lead the country to new elections. as soon as possible.
"I recognize Juan Guaidó as president in charge of Venezuela with a clear horizon: the convening of free, democratic, guaranteed and non-exclusive elections," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Twitter. "The Spanish government will strengthen the international contact group set up by the EU to accompany Venezuela in the convening of free and democratic elections," he added, referring to the group formed last Thursday by the bloc. and who will meet for the first time Thursday in Uruguay.
In a symbolic gesture, not binding the governments of the continent, the European Parliament had already approved Thursday a resolution recognizing the authority of Guaido. British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said that from Monday London would recognize the opposition leader as "interim constitutional president" in Venezuela.
"Maduro has not called for a presidential election within eight days.The UK and its European allies now recognize Juan Guaidó as Acting Constitutional President until credible elections can be held. organized, "wrote Hunt on Twitter. .
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed its support for the opposition "until the holding of free and new democratic elections" in this country of South America. The Austrian Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stressed that Guaidó "has the total support" of the country to restore democracy in Venezuela, which according to him "has long suffered from socialist mismanagement and the lack of social security. a state of law ". The German government spokesman announced his support for Guaidó. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Japan to demand a "stable and democratic" solution in Venezuela.
"For us, Guaidó is in tune with the constitution of the transitional president of Venezuela to organize free, fair and democratic presidential elections." Our concern remains for the Venezuelan people who are suffering from the dramatic situation. Millions of euros in humanitarian aid to Venezuela as soon as the political environment allows, "Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote on Twitter.
French Chancellor Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that France would consult other European countries on the recognition of Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela, but then stressed that the opposition leader had "the ability and legitimacy "to organize a new trial in Venezuela. Following this, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, formalized the support of Guaidó on Twitter.
"We are in favor of the contact group created with the European Union in this period of transition," he wrote, adding that "the French have the right to express themselves freely and democratically". France recognizes Juan Guaidó as "president in office" for the implementation of an electoral process. Macron on Twitter.
On Sunday, when the deadline for the European ultimatum ends, the European Union announced that
will be co-host
, next to Uruguay, a meeting of the contact group created last Thursday by the bloc to try to resolve the Venezuelan crisis through free elections. The Chancellors of Bolivia, Costa Rica and Ecuador will also be present at this Thursday's meeting in Montevideo. The announcement of the meeting highlighted the bloc's divergence of tone compared to the US approach, which rejects any negotiations with Maduro. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that military intervention "is an option" in the crisis.
Russia criticizes European "interference".
Beyond Spain, Britain and France, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands have asked Maduro to accept the new presidential election by Sunday, otherwise the authority would be recognized. Austria joined the group on Sunday. In an interview with the Spanish network La Sexta, the Bolivarian leader
rejected the ultimatum
and promised "not to give up the arm to encourage cowardice".
– Why does the European Union have to tell a country in the world that has already held elections that have to reiterate its presidential elections because it has not won its right-wing allies? Asked Maduro, interviewed in Caracas by the journalist Jordi Evole.
Maduro took office on February 10 for a second presidential term, after being re-elected in elections marked by denunciations of fraud, a boycott of the opposition and a 54% abstention. More than 40 countries, including the European Union as a whole, have questioned the legitimacy of the trial.
There is no consensus among the EU countries on the recognition of Guaidó as head of state, which would set a precedent for other cases Similar. Although he accuses Maduro of stifling democracy, the European Union hesitated to face the precedent of self-declaration and so it took time to follow the United States and most Latin American countries.
Faced with the wave of support in Europe in Guaidó, Russia denounces the "interference" of the countries of the continent in the internal affairs of Venezuela. Moscow is one of the main allies and creditors of the Maduro regime.
– We perceive attempts to legitimize the usurpation of power as direct and indirect interference in Venezuela's internal affairs, Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov told reporters.
During the interview with La Sexta, Maduro sent a message to Guaidó.
– Abandon the strategy of coup d'etat. If you want to get something, sit down at a face-to-face bargaining table, "challenged the president.
Guaidó, 35, has already indicated that he will not engage in a "fake" dialogue that would give the government more oxygen and save him time. The opposition leader said that Venezuelans would continue on the street "until the usurpation" of Maduro's power ceases. On Saturday, he called a new rally for February 12, Tuesday of next week.
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