19 EU countries, with among others the notable exception of Italy, recognised in a joint statement the opposition leader and current Speaker Juan Guaidó as the legitimate acting president of Venezuela, and asked him to call for immediate presidential elections.
The outgoing head of the State, Nicolás Maduro (pictured along with the Italian 5 Stars movement leader Luigi Di Maio), who is accused of violating human rights and rigging the latest presidential election, in 2018, stated that he will not resign.