Faced with a changing situation in Venezuela, the European Union, through its High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, gave its full support on Wednesday 23 January to the National Assembly chaired by Juan Guaidó, as a "democratically elected institution".
But unlike the United States, Canada and several neighbouring countries such as Colombia and Brazil, the Twenty-Eight have not officially recognised Mr Guaidó, who proclaimed himself President of Venezuela, nor do they recognise the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro's second mandate as President.
Despite the polarisation of political forces on the ground, the EU calls for the "immediate" establishment of a process allowing Venezuelans to "freely choose their future" through "credible elections". According to them, the international contact group, which Europeans are trying to set up with their partners in the region, remains relevant (see EUROPE 12176).
Several leaders support opponents of the regime. "After the illegitimate election of Nicolás Maduro in May 2018, Europe supports the restoration of democracy", said French President Emmanuel Macron, greeting, on Thursday via Twitter, "the courage of the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who march for their freedom". For the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, Mr Guaidó enjoys "democratic" legitimacy, unlike Mr Maduro.
For Mr Tajani, Mr Maduro has to go
Straight out, the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, who spoke to Mr Guaidó on Thursday, said that, “in the face of general discontent, Maduro has to go now". He also added: "President Juan Guaidó is the only institutional interlocutor in Venezuela because he is the one who enjoys democratic legitimacy.”.
According to his entourage, the latest Parliament resolution, which calls for free elections in Venezuela and supports the opening of an international investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the Maduro regime (see EUROPE 12125), authorises him to make this statement.
On an initiative of the EPP Group, the European Parliament will debate, at the end of January, and adopt a ninth resolution on the political crisis in Venezuela. The President of the Greek New Democracy Party, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, supported this move to recognise Mr Guaidó as interim President before free elections are held.
The GUE/NGL group described Mr Guaidó's initiative as an attempted coup d'état. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)