The European Union stopped recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president on Wednesday, after the National Assembly’s term expired on Tuesday, although it has indicated its intention to work with him and other Venezuelan leaders to achieve a peaceful way out of the political crisis.
In a statement, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said that the EU will maintain its contacts “with all political and civil society actors to return democracy to Venezuela, including in particular Joan Guaidó and other representatives of the outgoing National Assembly. “
While acknowledging that the National Assembly elected in 2015 is the last free expression of Venezuelans in an electoral process, the EU avoids supporting the extension of Guaidó’s term as Speaker of the House and therefore as president in charge.
In December i-set decided not to recognize the result of the legislative elections in Venezuela, considering that they did not meet the “minimum” international standards and were given a month to define their relationship with the National Assembly .
In this sense, Borrell regrets “deeply” that the National Assembly has assumed its mandate this Tuesday after an election that was not democratic. He also reiterated his commitment to an inclusive national dialogue that would allow a political solution to the crisis in Venezuela through local, legislative and presidential elections.
“The EU calls on the Venezuelan authorities and their leaders to prioritize the interests of the Venezuelan people and to unite to begin a Venezuelan-led transition that can allow a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable way out of the crisis,” the statement added. of the High Representative, who reiterated that the EU is ready to support this process.
PARALLEL ASSEMBLIES
This Tuesday, in parallel events to ‘Chavismo’ and the opposition led by Joan Guaidó began their respective assemblies, with each of the two parties vindicating themselves as legitimate representatives of Venezuela and appealing to a community which is equally divided on the political situation in the country.
Guaidó, who in January 2019 proclaimed himself ‘president in charge’ of the country, asserting precisely his legitimacy before the president, Nicolás Maduro, has launched a new call for “unity” to face what he considers a last attempt to end to the “usurpation” that the present Government would represent.