Who鈥檚 in charge of Venezuela? EU stops recognizing Juan Guaid贸.
U.S. President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration continues to recognize Juan Guaid贸 as Venezuela鈥檚 leader. But the EU has dropped its recognition of Mr. Guaid贸 after he lost his position as head of Venezuela鈥檚 parliament following December legislative elections.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaid贸 speaks during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 5, 2020. The EU is continuing to call for the opposition in Venezuela to unite against the disputed rule of President Nicolas Maduro.
Manaure Quintero/Reuters
Brussels; and Washington
Venezuela鈥檚 Juan Guaid贸聽is a 鈥減rivileged interlocutor鈥� but no longer considered interim president, European Union states said in a statement on Monday, sticking by their decision to downgrade his status.
The EU鈥檚 27 states had said on Jan. 6 they could no longer legally recognize Mr. Guaid贸 after he lost his position as head of parliament following legislative elections in Venezuela in December, despite the EU not recognizing that vote.
Following the disputed re-election of President Nicol谩s Maduro in 2018, Mr. Guaid贸, as head of parliament, became interim president. Mr. Guaid贸 is still seen by the United States and Britain as Venezuela鈥檚 rightful leader.
The status of interim president gives Mr. Guaid贸 access to funds confiscated from Mr. Maduro by Western governments, as well as affording him access to top officials and supporting his pro-democracy movement domestically and internationally.
Last week,聽U.S. President Joe Biden鈥檚 nominee for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said the Biden administration will continue to recognize Mr. Guaid贸 as the South American country鈥檚 president.
Mr. Blinken told members of the U.S. Senate that Mr. Biden would seek to 鈥渕ore effectively target鈥� sanctions on the country, which aim to oust Mr. Maduro, who retains control of the country. Mr. Blinken said the new administration would also look at more humanitarian assistance to the country.
鈥淲e need an effective policy that can restore Venezuela to democracy, starting with free and fair elections,鈥� Mr. Blinken said.
But Mr. Guaid贸鈥檚 push to oust Mr. Maduro 鈥� who has overseen a collapse in the once-prosperous OPEC nation鈥檚 economy and stands accused of corruption and human rights violations 鈥� has stalled.
Mr. Maduro calls Mr. Guaid贸 a U.S. puppet seeking to oust him in a coup. His allies have expressed a desire to engage in negotiations with the Biden administration after years of tensions and escalating U.S. sanctions.聽
The 27 EU members said in a joint statement that Mr. Guaid贸 was part of the democratic opposition 鈥� despite a resolution by the European Parliament last week for EU governments to maintain Mr. Guaid贸鈥檚 position as head of state.
鈥淭he EU repeats its calls for ... the freedom and safety of all political opponents, in particular representatives of the opposition parties elected to the National Assembly of 2015, and especially Juan Guaid贸,鈥� the statement said following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
鈥淭he EU considers them to be important actors and privileged interlocutors,鈥� it said, calling for the opposition to unite against the disputed rule of Mr. Maduro.
The assembly elected in 2015 was held by the opposition, whereas the new assembly is in the hands of Mr. Maduro鈥檚 allies, after the opposition called on Venezuelans to boycott the vote.
Mr. Guaid贸 last week thanked the European Parliament for recognizing him as president of the National Assembly, a committee of lawmakers who assert they are the country鈥檚 legitimate legislature, arguing the 2020 parliamentary elections were fraudulent.
This story was reported by Reuters.