26 Jan 2019; DW: Germany and Spain say Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro must hold elections. If not, both would consider following the United States in recognizing the head of the opposition as president.
Germany and Spain said on Friday that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido should be recognized as president if standing President Nicolas Maduro did not agree "immediately" to hold new elections.
"The German government will speak in forthcoming EU consultations in favor of recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president, unless such free and fair elections are held immediately," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
Maduro, he added, had lost his legitimacy as president because his re-election in 2018 did not meet democratic standards.
"The cry of millions of people for democracy and the chance to determine the fate of their country in free and fair elections can no longer be ignored," Seibert said.
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell echoed Seibert, saying his government would push the rest of the European Union to recognize Guaido as interim president if Maduro failed to hold elections quickly.
Earlier this week, opposition lawmaker Guaido declared himself acting president of Venezuela in a stunning move that undermined Maduro's authority.
The US immediately recognized him as the legitimate president of the oil-rich, cash-strapped country, with most countries in the Americas quick to follow suit, including Brazil and Canada.
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