Venezuela parl. urges expulsion of EU envoy over new sanctions

Venezuela's parliament has called for the expulsion of the European Union (EU)'s ambassador to Caracas in response to the bloc's imposition of new sanctions against dozens of officials in President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

The National Assembly called for the head of state to "declare persona non grata the head of the diplomatic delegation" from the EU, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, in order to proceed with her expulsion.

"I vote with both hands for the European Union representative to be declared persona non grata," said Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodriguez.

Pedrosa had been declared persona non grata once before, when the EU imposed a previous round of sanctions on Venezuelan officials in July last year. Back then, Caracas gave her 72 hours to leave the country, but the government later backed down.

Venezuela: New EU sanctions based on false arguments, amount to aggression

Venezuela has condemned the latest EU sanctions on 19 officials, lawmakers and members of the security forces as based on “false arguments about honorable citizens” in the South American state.

The National Assembly also called on Tuesday for a revision of the agreement on the EU's presence in Caracas.

The vote came after the EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to impose sanctions on 19 Venezuelan officials for "undermining democracy."

Two members of the assembly were among the targeted officials. The governor of Zulia State, the commander of the armed forces, and three members of the Electoral Council, including its president, were also added to the EU's list of the individuals targeted with sanctions.

That would bring to 55 the total number of the members of the Venezuelan government targeted with asset freezes and travel bans by the EU.

The EU expanded its list of sanctions against Venezuelan officials after it refused to recognize the results of the December 2020 legislative elections, which saw Maduro win total control of parliament.

The United States and several Latin American countries have also rejected the election results.

They have long been supporting opposition figure Juan Guaido, who has plans to maintain a parallel parliament of shadow opposition lawmakers at an assembly that has already been declared defunct by Caracas.

Venezuela's Maduro denounces US 'criminal policy' at new parliament

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounces the United States

Last month, Guaido thanked the European Parliament for recognizing him as "president of Venezuela's National Assembly."

Guaido sparked a political crisis in Venezuela when he unilaterally declared himself "interim president" of the country in January last year.

The EU, however, announced that it no longer considered Guaido as Venezuela's "interim president," describing him merely as a "privileged interlocutor."

ALBA countries slam EU sanctions

The countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) denounced the unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, describing them as a "clear violation of international law."

The South American alliance said the EU sanctions "represent an unacceptable interventionist application that in no way contributes to the development of the Venezuelan people."

The group reiterated its solidarity with and support for the Venezuelan government and people and demanded that the international community reject the EU sanctions and "demonstrate in defense of the principles of respect for the sovereignty, self-determination, and independence of peoples."

The ALBA-TCP also called on the US and the EU to lift the "unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela."

US, European allies refuse to unfreeze Venezuela funds for vaccine purchase

Venezuelan president says the US, Britain and some EU states have rejected the country

Last month, the US, Britain, and some EU states rejected Venezuela's appeal to unfreeze its blocked assets so it could purchase much-needed coronavirus vaccines.

The US has imposed sanctions on oil-rich Venezuela to undermine Maduro's government.

The president, however, has declared plans to further expand ties with Iran, Russia, and China, among other allies, this year in order to boost his country's economic status.

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