Romania backs Venezuela's Guaido as interim president
Romania has officially recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate interim president, joining a coordinated action of European Union nations and the United States, President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday.
About 20 EU nations including Britain, Germany, France and Spain have aligned with the United States in recognizing Guaido's leadership and pressuring socialist President Nicolas Maduro to call a new election. However Italy on Monday blocked a joint EU position to recognize Guaido as interim president, diplomatic sources said.
"The President's decision was taken following careful analysis, including political, diplomatic and legal perspectives, taking into account the fact that the majority of EU states and a series of allies and euro-Atlantic partners have recognized the legitimacy of Interim President Juan Guaido," Romania's presidency said in a statement. Romania currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.
Last month, Guaido declared himself the country's "acting president", a move which was recognized by the US, but dismissed by Nicolás Maduro, who has held office since 2013. Maduro was sworn in for a second term in January, a result which was disputed by several governments, including the US. Along with Washington, Canada, Australia, Georgia, Haiti, Israel, Kosovo and Morocco have all formally recognized Guaido. Britain, Germany, France and Spain will formally back Guaido on few days back.
Smaller EU members, however, will adopt a more cautious approach, specifically avoiding to use words such as "recognition" in their statements. "A lot of countries will want to stress the interim nature of this de-facto recognition," an EU diplomat was quoted as saying by Reuters. The EU's position is further complicated by the fact the European Parliament was recognized the 35-year-old Guaido as the head of the Venezuelan congress.
According to the report, the 28-country bloc based its decision on the Venezuelan constitution, which states the head of congress can take over if the president is absent, incapacitated or usurps power.Guaido's allies have long argued that Maduro stole the second mandate in January.
Despite Guaido's attempt to oust him, Maduro retains the support of a host of allies in the region, including Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador and Nicaragua, as well as Dominica, Suriname, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean.
