Caracas: President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of two top US diplomats in Caracas in retaliation for a new round of sanctions over Venezuela‘s widely-condemned election, accusing them of a ‘conspiracy’ that was denied by the State Department.
The US, European Union (EU) and most major Latin American nations have all said Sunday’s vote did not meet democratic standards.
Maduro, the 55-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez, won re-election easily, but critics said the vote was riddled with irregularities, from the barring of two popular opposition rivals to the offering of a government “prize” to voters.
President Donald Trump responded on Monday with an executive order limiting Venezuela‘s ability to sell state assets.
Accusing US charge d’affaires Todd Robinson of being involved in “a military conspiracy,” Maduro ordered him and another senior diplomat, Brian Naranjo, to leave within 48 hours.
He gave no details of the accusations, but said the US Embassy had been meddling in military, economic and political issues, and vowed to present evidence shortly.
“Neither with conspiracies nor with sanctions will you hold Venezuela back,” Maduro said, at an event in downtown Caracas at the headquarters of the election board.
The US State Department rejected Maduro’s “false allegations” against the two diplomats, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at a news briefing in Washington.
Robinson gave a brief speech at a public appearance on Tuesday afternoon in Venezuela‘s western city of Merida.
“We energetically reject the accusations against me and against Brian Naranjo,” said Robinson, in comments streamed live on Facebook by local media.
“This was my first visit to Merida, but it will not be my last,” added Robinson, who assumed the charge d’affaires role in December.
In an interview on Tuesday, Venezuela‘s trade minister Jose Vielma said the latest round of sanctions would have a “more serious” impact on the country’s financial system.
Previous sanctions were limited to assets linked to individual Maduro administration members.
The executive order prohibits US citizens from being involved in sales of Venezuela‘s pending invoices related to oil and other assets, though Vielma said shipments of fuel and crude to US would continue.
It appears to target in part Citgo, a US-based oil refiner owned by Venezuela state oil company PDVSA. More obstacles to PDVSA’s ability to sell oil abroad could restrict already-dwindling foreign exchange earnings, worsening the economic crisis and pressuring Maduro.
“This attack against Venezuela, which seeks to completely strangle the country, is unheard of,” Vielma said, adding that Venezuela would continue to collect on its accounts receivable.
Low turnout
Among widespread international condemnation of the vote, the EU said in a statement on Tuesday the elections did not comply with “minimum international standards for a credible process” and repeated it would consider the “adoption of appropriate measures.”
The mainstream opposition coalition boycotted Sunday’s vote, calling it a sham aimed at legitimising Maduro’s rule.
Maduro, whose second term will begin next January, won 68% of the vote. Former state governor Henri Falcon, who broke with the boycott to challenge Maduro, said he received reports of hundreds of irregularities. Turnout was less than 50%, compared with 80% in 2013.
Electoral council chief Tibisay Lucena, who is on individual US and EU sanctions lists, certified Maduro’s victory in a presentation on Tuesday.
The Trump administration has also tried to convince China and Russia to stop issuing new credit to Venezuela, US officials told reporters on Monday. The two countries have provided billions of dollars in funding for Venezuela in recent years.
But they appeared unlikely to heed the US warnings. Beijing said on Tuesday it believed US and Venezuela should resolve their differences via talks, while Moscow said it would not comply with the sanctions.
In a statement on Tuesday, Venezuela‘s foreign ministry said the sanctions violated international law and blamed the US “blockade” of the country for “blocking the population’s access to basic goods.”
Most mainstream economists say the country’s strict currency controls, heavy state intervention and money-printing are responsible for a crisis that has caused widespread shortages of food and medicine and led to mass emigration.
(Reuters)