EU announces it will not recognize ‘legitimacy’ of Venezuelan president

Foreign ministers in the European Union announced on Thursday they would not recognize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ’s “democratic legitimacy .”

The decision comes slightly over a month after Venezuela’s controversial presidential election, in which Maduro was declared the winner, even though the opposition candidate provided some evidence suggesting the country’s president was actually defeated.

“We cannot accept the legitimacy of Maduro as elected president,” said Josep Borrell , EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice president of the European Commission. “He will remain president, de facto. ... But we deny democratic legitimacy based on a result that cannot be verified.”

Borrell’s statement came after a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, with foreign ministers from the EU's 27 members, Reuters reported. He said the decision came after officials in Venezuela, and within Maduro’s regime, failed to provide legitimate evidence that verified Maduro's victory in July’s presidential election.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, a government office loyal to Maduro, declared him the winner despite not publishing completed voting tallies, according to reports. Meanwhile, the country’s opposition party, led by Maria Corina Machado, presented evidence that its candidate , Edmundo Gonzalez, defeated Maduro by a wide margin, the Associated Press reported. Since then, Machado and Gonzalez have balanced hiding from Maduro’s police and helping lead protests against Maduro.

Gonzalez participated in the meeting as well, connecting via video link.

In response to the opposition to his election victory, Maduro has taken action to suppress dissent in his country by implementing authoritarian-type measures. It is believed nearly 1,800 people have been arrested after participating in demonstrations against Maduro and are being held as political prisoners, Reuters reported.

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Despite the EU’s condemnation and rejection of acknowledging the legitimacy of the Maduro regime, such a declaration will have little impact on the country and not provide any meaningful efforts to help Gonzalez become president. Borrell acknowledged this political reality on Thursday.

Nevertheless, he suggested the EU’s action sent a “strong statement” and was a suitable first step.