Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reiterated on Monday that he would stay in office for the next six years regardless of the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president by a number of EU nations
BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th February, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reiterated on Monday that he would stay in office for the next six years regardless of the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president by a number of EU nations."I will continue to rule [the country] together with the people for the next six years," Maduro said in an address to the military, aired on Twitter.
Earlier in the day, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom recognized Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly, as the country's interim president. The moves came after the deadline set by the European Union for Maduro to announce snap a presidential election elapsed on Sunday.
EU countries were expected to recognize Guaido in a joint statement, but, according to a comment of a diplomatic source in Brussels to Sputnik, Italy blocked the statement.
Tensions in Venezuela escalated nearly two weeks ago when Guaido declared himself interim president, disputing last year's re-election of Maduro. The opposition leader was almost immediately recognized by the United States and several other countries. Russia, China, Mexico, Turkey and Uruguay were among those that have voiced their support for Maduro as the country's legitimately-elected president.
