Recognition by the Biden Government of Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela

Question for written answer  E-000504/2021
to the Council
Rule 138
Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE)

In his hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 19 January 2021[1], Anthony Blinken, nominee for Secretary of State, confirmed that the Biden Government would continue to recognise Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela.

Mr Blinken also promised ‘better, stronger coordination, cooperation with like-minded countries’ with a view to restoring democracy in Venezuela.

Before that hearing, on 5 January 2021, the Lima Group countries (Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru) reiterated their recognition of the Delegate Commission headed by its legitimate Board of Directors, established by the National Assembly, led by Juan Guaidó’[2].

The Foreign Affairs Council, on the other hand, in its conclusions on Venezuela of 25 January 2021[3], confirmed that the EU would ‘also continue to coordinate with the Lima Group and the US Administration and ... continue its outreach efforts with other international and regional actors’.

With a view specifically to coordinating with the Lima Group and the new US Government, should the Council not take the same position as them and recognise Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela?

• [1] https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nominations-011921 (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nominations-011921)
• [2] https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/noticias/323547-declaracion-del-grupo-de-lima (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/noticias/323547-declaracion-del-grupo-de-lima)
• [3] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5582-2021-INIT/en/pdf (https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5582-2021-INIT/en/pdf)