Brussels, Jan. 23. The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on European Union countries to recognize former MP Juan Guaido as the “interim president” of Venezuela. The resolution was voted for by 391 MEPs and 114 lawmakers opposed, according to the EP’s official website.
“We call on the member states of the Union to explicitly recognize the continued powers of the legitimate National Assembly of Venezuela, elected in 2015, and the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaido,” the European Parliament said in a press release.
The resolution is not legally binding. For Guaido to be recognized as president of Venezuela, unanimous recognition by all EU countries and the agreement of all countries’ representatives in the European Commission will be required.
Just a few days ago, on January 19, Josep Borrell, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said that the EU “has never recognized Juan Guaido as the legitimate representative of Venezuela” – the decision was not taken due to lack of unanimity among the member states of the Union.
Earlier, Brussels refused to recognize the results of the December parliamentary elections in Venezuela, calling them “unfree and undemocratic. The previous convocation of the National Assembly, whose representatives ignored the elections, announced the extension of Juan Guaido’s term as president of parliament and interim president of the country.
“The EU will continue to maintain relations with all politicians and civil society representatives who are trying to restore democracy in Venezuela, including in particular Juan Guaido and other representatives of the outgoing National Assembly elected in 2015,” Josep Borrell said in a January 7, 2020 statement.
Since the beginning of the political crisis in Venezuela in February 2019, the governments of Greece and Italy have refused to recognize Juan Guaido as the legitimate “interim president” of Venezuela, and have insisted on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
