Europe support buoys Guaido
Britain, France and Spain among EU nations to back opposition chief
International clamour for snap elections in Venezuela intensified as European powers recognised opposition chief Juan Guaido as interim leader, after President Nicolas Maduro rejected an ultimatum to call early voting.
International clamour for snap elections in Venezuela intensified as European powers recognised opposition chief Juan Guaido as interim leader, after President Nicolas Maduro rejected an ultimatum to call early voting.
Britain, France and Spain are among 19 EU nations to side with Guaido, following in the footsteps of key regional powers and the US, which has refused to rule out a military intervention in the crisis-wracked country.
But key Maduro ally Russia slammed what it called interference in the oil-rich but now poor Latin American country, saying it was an attempt to “legitimise usurped power”.
Guaido thanked each EU country in turn on Twitter “for supporting all Venezuelans in this struggle we undertake to rescue our nation’s democracy, freedom and justice”.
Claiming his legitimacy from the constitution, the 35-year-old National Assembly leader stunned the world when he proclaimed himself interim president on January 23, setting up a tense standoff with Maduro, with both men heading rival massive street rallies in Caracas on Saturday.
Guaido is trying to force from power the socialist leader labelled a dictator by the West and his Latin American neighbours after presiding over Venezuela’s economic collapse
and aims to set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections.
Despite Guaido’s pleas for their support, the armed forces have remained loyal to Maduro. But the opposition leader has expressed confidence he will win over senior officers after a top air force general publicly sided with him on Saturday.
Guaido lost no time in building on broadened international support, with his fledgling alternative administration announcing February 14 talks in Washington on responding to “the largest hemispheric humanitarian crisis in modern history”.
The opposition leader says up to 300,000 people are at risk of death from malnutrition and illness after years of shortages of basic food and medicines.
The US and other countries have already pledged humanitarian aid for Guaido’s administration, though it remains to be seen where and how it can enter the country without the military’s support.
The young legislator accused the military of planning to divert aid being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and an unidentified Caribbean island, in order to distribute it through the socialist government’s subsidised food programme for supporters. Guaido appealed to the military’s “conscience” to let the aid reach those most in need.
It remains unclear how Guaido could fund and operate an interim presidency with Maduro refusing to budge.
France, Germany, Britain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg also recognise Guaido. Ten EU countries have yet to announce their position.
The cascade of support from EU countries came after the passing of a Sunday deadline for Maduro to call presidential elections. Maduro flatly rejected the demands in an interview with Spanish television, insisting he would not “cave in to pressure”.
Venezuela’s foreign ministry announced a “review” of its diplomatic ties with EU states over their recognition of Guaido, saying they were effectively supporting plans for a coup.
Maduro began a new term in office in January after 2018 elections were branded illegitimate by the opposition. Under his stewardship, Venezuela has plunged into a crisis, suffering from hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.