The European Parliament recognized Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaido as the de-facto head of state on Thursday, a symbolic step that lawmakers said was designed to keep pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
READ MORE: Canada will recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s president, follows move by U.S. to do the same
EU lawmakers voted in a non-binding resolution to recognize Guaido as interim leader and called on all EU governments to follow suit.
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“From Europe, we can help change the Venezuelan regime and make it known that tyrants will never enlighten any democratic possibility,” Spanish centre-right EU lawmaker Esteban Gonzalez Pons said in a statement.
Last week, a handful of Western nations, including Canada and U.S., also recognized Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.
WATCH: Venezuela diplomatic envoy warns Maduro against imprisoning Guaido
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