By EFE
The European Parliament recognized on Thursday Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution.
MEPs urged EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and member states to recognize Guaido “as the only legitimate interim president of the country until new free, transparent and credible presidential elections can be called in order to restore democracy”.
In a resolution, adopted with 439 votes to 104 and 88 abstentions, they reiterate their full support to the National Assembly, Venezuela’s only legitimate democratic body whose powers need to be restored and respected, including the rights and safety of its members.
MEPs also condemn the fierce repression and violence, resulting in killings and casualties and demand the de facto Venezuelan authorities to halt all human rights violations, to hold those responsible for them to account, and to ensure that all fundamental freedoms and human rights are fully respected.
In this regard, they support the call by the UN Secretary-General for an independent and full investigation to be carried out into the perpetrated killings.
They also denounced the detention of journalists covering the situation in Venezuela, among them several EU nationals, and called for their immediate release.
