Opposition leader Guaido seeks Italy’s recognition as Venezuela’s temporary head of state

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido is seeking recognition from Italy as his country’s temporary head of state.

Reports say the hard-right League has expressed strong support for Guaido, but coalition partner the 5-Star Movement has not, making Italy the only major European Union nation not to recognise Guaido.

In a Feb. 5 letter distributed by League leader and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini’s office on Wednesday, Guaido asks if he can send a delegation “to illustrate the plan of action to renew democracy in Venezuela” through fair elections.

“The current humanitarian crisis is hitting all Venezuelans, including the more than 100,000 Italians who live in Venezuela,” it said. A 5-Star government source said its leader Luigi Di Maio had received a similar letter.

In a related development, Guaido has waved aside a warning by President Nicolas Maduro who said the lingering political crisis in the country could lead to a civil war.
Maduro had said that whether there was war in the country would depend on the “madness” of the US and its allies.
But Guaidó rubbished the suggestion by Maduro as an “invention” of his presidential rival.

Read also: Trump out to kill me, Venezuela’s Maduro claims

Guaidó has declared himself interim president and has won support from major powers including the US.
More pressure continues to pile on Maduro to call for fresh polls or relinquish power as France, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark have joined Britain and Spain in recognising Guaido as interim president of the South American country.

In a Twitter post on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country recognises Guaido as an “acting president to implement an electoral process”.

Reports say the coordinated move from the major European nations came after the expiry of an eight-day deadline they set last weekend for President Nicolas Maduro to call a new presidential vote.

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