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Major EU Countries Follow Trump — Recognize Juan Guaidó As Venezuelan President

(PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images)

Graeme Gallagher Contributor
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Following in Trump’s footsteps, a group of European countries have recognized Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro’s deadline to call elections expired Sunday night. (RELATED: Trump Endorses Venezuela’s Opposition Leader As Legitimate President)

The U.K., Spain, France Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark and Poland all joined the United States in supporting Guaidó as the legitimate leader of a country that has faced economic oppression and suppression under the reign of Maduro, according to CNN.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - FEBRUARY 02: Juan Guaido speaks to demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolás Maduro on February 2, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela's self-declared president and accepted by over 20 countries, Juan Guaidó, called Venezuelans to the streets and demands the resignation of Nicolás Maduro. (Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

Juan Guaido speaks to demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolás Maduro on February 2, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela.  (Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Guardian, “The people of Venezuela have suffered enough. It is time for a new start, with free and fair elections in accordance with international democratic standards.”  

Hunt also tweeted his support of the interim president on Monday.

Both the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the U.K.’s call for Guaidó to hold fair elections in Venezuela. (RELATED: Life Under Socialism: The Real Faces Of The Venezuelan Hunger)

“From today, we will carry on dedicating all our efforts to the task of helping to bring freedom, prosperity and harmony to all Venezuelans,” said Sánchez.

“Venezuelans have the right to express themselves freely and democratically,” Macron tweeted Monday.

Not without any support, Maduro still has backing from the Venezuelan elite, Russia, China and Turkey, and has consistently rejected European calls for elections.

“We don’t accept ultimatums from anyone. I refuse to call for elections now – there will be elections in 2024. We don’t care what Europe says,” said Maduro on Sunday.

The controversy within Venezuela will lead up to an “International Contract Group on Venezuela” in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Thursday. In attendance will be the EU, including France, Germany, the UK, Spain and countries from Latin America.

“The IGC aims at contributing to create conditions for a political and peaceful process to emerge, enabling Venezuelans to determine their own future, through the holding of free, transparent and credible elections, in line with the country’s Constitution,” read the statement of the meeting from the EU.