Italy reacted on Wednesday by also announcing the summoning of Venezuela’s charge d’affaires to Rome to protest against these restrictions.
And the Netherlands on Wednesday ordered Venezuela to reduce the number of diplomats accredited in The Hague from four to two, in retaliation for Caracas’ decision.
“France categorically rejects the allegations of interference made against it. France is committed to maintaining a dialogue with all parties in order to facilitate a peaceful end to the crisis,” said the French ministry’s press release on Thursday.
-Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, 62, was proclaimed winner of the July presidential election with 52% of the votes by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which however did not publish the minutes of the polling stations as provided for in the law, claiming to be the victim of computer hacking. An explanation considered not very credible by many observers.
The United States, the European Union, the G7 and several democratic countries neighboring Venezuela have refused to recognize Mr. Maduro’s re-election.
