The European Union on Friday singled out representatives of the 2015 opposition-majority National Assembly as «important actors and privileged interlocutors» following the dismissal of Juan Guaidó as president of the institution and «president in charge» of the country.
In statements to Europa Press on the future deal that the EU will maintain with Guaidó and the Venezuelan opposition, a spokesman for the bloc has stressed support for the actors working for the democratic future in Venezuela and specifically its recognition of the Assembly elected at the end of 2015, which for the international community is the last democratic institution in the South American country.
«We respect the decision of the deputies to the National Assembly of 2015 on its new leadership, including the creation of the Commission for the protection of Venezuelan assets abroad,» he has assessed on the decision to end the mandate of Guaidó and abolish the figure of president in charge.
Guaidó proclaimed himself almost four years ago ‘president in charge’ of Venezuela, asserting his headship of the Assembly. Then more than fifty countries endorsed this movement and recognized him as interim president, but the international support was blurring in recent times and in 2021 the European Union stopped giving him preferential treatment to refer to him as an interlocutor among others in the Venezuelan opposition.
In this sense, the EU reiterates its position after Guaidó’s departure and stresses that the representatives of the opposition parties elected to the 2015 National Assembly «continue to be considered important actors and privileged interlocutors for the EU».
The EU diplomacy underlines the European commitment to the Venezuelan people to find a political and peaceful solution to the humanitarian crisis that allows the «total return» to democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, through the holding of «credible, transparent and inclusive» elections.
In the new political context in Venezuela, with the launching of the dialogue process in Mexico between government and opposition, the EU underlines that negotiations are «the only way towards a peaceful and sustainable solution» to the crisis and applauds the first humanitarian agreements reached within the talks.
In this sense, the EU spokesman reiterated the call to the parties sitting in the Mexican capital to negotiate with pragmatism, «assuming commitments and putting the interests of the Venezuelan people first».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
