EU refuses to recognise Venezuela’s acting president's legitimacy

The European Union has made it clear that it does not recognise the legitimacy of Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president on January 5, Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission (EC), stated during a briefing in Brussels.

According to Hipper, the current Venezuelan authorities, including Rodríguez, received their mandate through elections that failed to meet democratic standards. As a result, the EU continues to consider neither Nicolás Maduro nor Delcy Rodríguez as legitimate leaders of Venezuela, Caliber.Az reports. 

However, the European Commission has indicated it will maintain "limited contact" with Venezuelan officials, despite its rejection of their legitimacy.

Hipper also clarified that the EU recognises the legitimacy of individuals democratically elected by the Venezuelan people, specifically naming opposition figures Edmundo González and María Corina Machado as potential future interlocutors.

By Sabina Mammadli