Nine more countries — Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president.
"The eight-day period for convening free democratic and transparent elections in Venezuela has expired. The Kingdom of the Netherlands recognizes Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. We want freedom and democracy to return to Venezuela as soon as possible," Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said via Twitter that "Venezuelans have the right to express themselves freely and democratically. France recognizes Guaido as "president in charge" to implement an electoral process."
"I recognise the president of Venezuela's assembly, Mr Juan Guaido, as president in charge of Venezuela," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised statement.
At the same time, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has turned to Twitter to express the UK's support for the opposition leader.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter: "The regime [of Nicolas] Maduro has so far refused to accept free and fair presidential elections. For this reason, from now on, we consider Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president according to the Venezuelan constitution."
Wallstrom added she was hoping to represent Sweden at the meeting of the contact group on Venezuela, scheduled to take place in Montevideo on Thursday.
The government of President Nicolas Maduro has yet to comment on the decision made by the European countries.
Italy Vetoes EU Statement Recognising Guaido as Interim Venezuelan Leader
Earlier in the day, a Sputnik source said that Italy vetoed a European Union statement, recognising Guaido as the interim President of Venezuela.
"According to the information I have, Italy, at an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states on 31 January — 1 February in Bucharest, vetoed a statement on behalf of the EU, which was to be made by the head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini and which said that the EU would recognise Guaido if new presidential elections are not organised," the source said.
According to the source, it was announced that the European Union, together with Uruguay, plans to hold the first ministerial meeting of the international contact group on Venezuela on 7 February in Montevideo.
Rome has yet to officially confirm the information, however, this comes just days after Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Manlio Di Stefano said that Italy did not recognise Venezuelan opposition leader and the head of the National Assembly as the country's interim president amid the escalating political crisis in the South American country.
The information comes just hours after Nicolas Maduro reaffirmed his rejection of European states' ultimatum to hold a new presidential vote in Venezuela.
On January 26, European countries issued an ultimatum to the constitutionally-elected Venezuelan President Maduro, saying that he had eight days to organise an election or they would recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president.
Earlier, Guaido, proclaimed himself the country's interim president and was immediately recognised by the US as well as a number of other countries.
