Spain, Portugal call for free election in Venezuela

By Alyssa McMurtry and Senhan Bolelli

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain and Portugal called for free elections in Venezuela on Thursday after Washington's move to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president, while one Spanish opposition leader decried support for the “coup” attempt.

Neither country has recognized Guaido as president nor come out in favor of Nicolas Maduro.

Guaido said that in a conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday morning, they discussed achieving a transitional government and free elections. “At that, the Prime Minister confirmed his total backing,” Guaido tweeted.

Sanchez has yet to comment publicly on the situation or the phone call.

The priority now is to prevent further deterioration of the situation in Venezuela, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell told a press conference, calling on the European Union to agree on a strategy and intervene to bring about democratic elections.

Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Spain’s far-left Podemos party, tweeted: “[U.S. President Donald] Trump and his allies don’t care about democracy or human rights in Venezuela, only its petroleum. Spain and Europe should defend international laws, dialogue and peaceful mediation, not a coup d’etat.”

According to Spain’s national statistics agency, the number of Venezuelans living in the country has reached a record high, with more than 95,000 registered residents – almost double that of 2015.

Separately, Portugal called for free elections so President Nicolas Maduro understands that "his time is up," Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva told news agency Lusa on Thursday.

Silva also expressed support for the EU foreign policy chief's statement on Venezuela and condemned all kind of violence.

The EU fully supports Venezuela's National Assembly as the democratically elected institution whose powers need to be restored and respected, said foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of the country, marking the most significant escalation in the ongoing feud between the U.S. and Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s president.

Maduro quickly shot back, cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.S. and giving U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.