CARACAS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th February, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reaffirmed on Monday his rejection of European states' ultimatum to hold new presidential election in Venezuela, emphasizing the legitimacy of the recent election.
While the European Union has called for the snap presidential election to be held in Venezuela, some of its member states, particularly, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, declared on January 26 their intention to recognize the head of opposition-controlled National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, as the country's interim president if Caracas does not announce a new election within eight days.
"We do not accept ultimatums from anyone. Imagine that I tell the European Union: 'I give you seven days to recognize the Catalan Republic, otherwise we will take measures' � this would be the same thing," Maduro said in an interview with Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.
He slammed the EU member states for supporting Washington's attempts to stage a state coup in Venezuela, also voicing the belief that the recently created right-wing governments of several Latin American states supported Washington as well.
"The people [of Venezuela] has elected me for a six-year term. I think it will be better for my country if all the Venezuelans act in compliance with the provisions of the constitution," Maduro added, stressing that the next presidential election was scheduled for 2025.
Venezuela is currently facing large-scale anti-government protests with opposition leader Guaido having declared himself the country's interim president on January 23. Maduro has accused the United States of plotting to overthrow him and expressed the belief that Guaido was being instructed by Washington.
On January 30, Maduro said in an interview with Sputnik that Venezuela would not tolerate ultimatums from anyone.
