EU calls on Venezuela to renew presidential vote

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) - The European Union urged Venezuela to hold fresh presidential poll, saying election should be renewed "in accordance with internationally recognized democratic standards".

Days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term, the EU Council on Monday said in a statement that the early presidential elections were not held with a consensus and in a fair environment.

The statement also said the EU would impose "additional targeted and reversible restrictive measures, that do not harm the Venezuelan population, whose plight the EU wishes to alleviate."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won a second term in office on May 20.

Maduro first took office in 2013 after his predecessor Hugo Chavez died and is set to govern Venezuela for another six-year term, from January 2019 to 2025.