Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC TIMES

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday ordered the European Union’s ambassador to leave the country in 72 hours after Brussels slapped sanctions against 11 officials of the Maduro regime.  Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, the EU ambassador in Caracas, was expelled as Brussels sanctioned the Venezuelan officials  for acting against the national assembly headed by opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

“The Council today added 11 leading Venezuelan officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures, because of their role in acts and decisions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The individuals added to the list are responsible notably for acting against the democratic functioning of the National Assembly, including by stripping the parliamentary immunity of several members of its members, not least its president, Juan Guaidó. Actions motivating the decision for listing also include initiating politically motivated prosecutions and creating obstacles to a political and democratic solution to the crisis in Venezuela, as well as serious violations of human rights and restrictions of fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of press and speech.”

-European Council of the European Union statement June 29, 2020

Maduro Orders EU Ambassador To Pack Her Bags and Leave Venezuela 

“Given the interventionist, racist and supremacist actions of the European Union that attack Venezuelans with sanctions, I decided to give 72 hours to their ambassador to leave the country. They must respect Venezuela in its integrity as a nation. Enough of Colonialism!”

 -Venezuela President Maduro

“Who are they to try to impose themselves with threats? We will sort it out in 72 hours… she will be given a plane to leave, but we will arrange our things with the European Union.”

Ante las acciones intervencionistas, racistas y supremacistas de la Unión Europea que agreden con sanciones a venezolanos, decidí darle 72 horas a su embajadora para que abandone el país. A Venezuela deben respetarla en su integridad como nación. ¡Basta de Colonialismo! pic.twitter.com/JdFd4ZoIdE

— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) June 30, 2020

Restrictive measures by the EU on Venezuela were introduced in November 2017. They include an embargo on arms and on equipment for internal repression as well as a travel ban and an asset freeze on listed individuals. The EU measures have strained relations between Brussels and Caracas.  In February 2019, European countries including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Denmark recognised Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela in a coordinated move made after a deadline for Nicolás Maduro to call presidential elections expired

“Today’s decision brings to 36 the total number of individuals under sanctions, which include a travel ban and an asset freeze. These measures target individuals and do not affect the population in general. The EU will continue working to foster a peaceful democratic solution in Venezuela, through inclusive and credible legislative elections,” the EU said in statement.