EU gives Venezuela’s Maduro 8-day ultimatum else opposition leader Guaido will be recognised as president

The European Union has handed headstrong Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro an eight-day ultimatum, else opposition leader Juan Guaido will be recognised as president.

Spain, France and Germany all joined in handing Maduro the ultimatum to recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s president unless Maduro calls for fresh elections.

“If within eight days there are no fair, free and transparent elections called in Venezuela, Spain will recognise Juan Guaido as Venezuelan president,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised announcement on Saturday.

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Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself acting president of Venezuela during massive street rallies this week.

The ultimatum comes after the United States Department ordered non-emergency government employees to leave Venezuela amid growing crises over Maduro’s future as the country’s leader.

Reports say the US Embassy in Caracas has also advised its citizens to “strongly consider” leaving the country.

Diplomatic ties between the US and Venezuela became more strained after US President Donald Trump publicly recognised Guaido as the president of the country.

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