PARIS - France stepped up pressure on
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, saying
opposition leader Juan Guaido has the right to organise new
elections.
"Guaido has the capacity and the legitimacy to organise an
election," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told
France Inter radio station.
Several major European nations had been expected to start
recognising Guaido from Monday, after an eight-day deadline they
set last weekend for Maduro to call a new vote.
The Venezuelan socialist leader, who is accused of running
the OPEC nation like a dictatorship and wrecking its economy,
has defied that, saying Europe's ruling elite are
sycophantically following U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda.
Le Drian said France would consult European partners over
Venezuela, and that it was imperative the conflict was resolved
peacefully and civil war avoided.
The United States, Canada and several Latin American
countries have disavowed Maduro over his disputed re-election
last year, and backed Guaido.
Maduro, who has overseen an economic collapse and the exodus
of millions of Venezuelans, maintains the backing of Russia,
China and Turkey, and the support of the military top brass.
Russia, a major creditor to Venezuela in recent years, has
urged restraint.