UK set to recognise Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela – Hunt

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that the UK will recognise Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela if fair elections are not announced within eight days.

The move marks a ratcheting-up of pressure on president Nicolas Maduro who faces international demands to give way to Mr Guaido, who is head of the South American country’s national assembly.

Mr Hunt Tweeted: “After banning opposition candidates, ballot box stuffing and counting irregularities in a deeply flawed election it is clear Nicolas Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

“@jguaido is the right person to take Venezuela forward. If there are not fresh & fair elections announced within 8 days UK will recognise him as interim President to take forward the political process towards democracy. Time for a new start for the suffering ppl of Venezuela.”

And in a dig at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Hunt tweeted: “Wonder how proud @jeremycorbyn is of ringing Nicolas Maduro on live TV to congratulate him on his victory?

“If Maduro’s policies result in 82% of population in poverty there is just the tiniest clue what Corbyn’s policies might do to Britain…”

Speaking ahead of a UN meeting to discuss the situation in the South American state, Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan said: “The UK has been concerned about Venezuela for a long, long time.

“And I’m glad that today we can actually all get together and make our message clear to the world about what now needs to happen in Venezuela.”

Mr Guaido declared himself acting president in the capital Caracas on Wednesday amid mass protests against Mr Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by economic collapse, hyperinflation and shortages of many basic items.

Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term as president earlier this month despite widespread claims of vote-rigging in last year’s election, which was subject to a boycott by the opposition.

In response to US president Donald Trump’s recognition of 35-year-old Mr Guaido as interim president, Mr Maduro broke off diplomatic ties and gave American embassy officials 72 hours to leave the country.