France says Guaido has right to organise new Venezuela election

Published Feb 4, 2019

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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. 

Reuters

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