Portugal finally decided to recognize Nicolás Maduro and his government as the de facto authorities of Venezuela. The Portuguese government explains that it is in the light of international law that it will dialogue with these institutions, as is currently the case concerning the dispute concerning the airline company TAP. Nevertheless, Portugal recognizes Juan Guaidó as the personality capable of launching a new electoral process. The investigation into the alleged transport of explosives on a Lisbon - Caracsa flight is still ongoing. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal. tells you all about the recognition by Portugal of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela.
Portugal finally recognizes Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela
The dispute erupted when the Venezuelan government accused the airline TAP of having violated "international standards", of having authorized the transport of explosives on board an airliner and of having concealed the identity of the Leader of the Opposition, Juan Guaidó, during a flight to Caracas.
In response, Venezuela suspended TAp operations for 90 days.
Guaidó was applauded as the de facto president of Venezuela and received as head of state in the White House and in other countries following an international tour. No support has so far exceeded this official recognition. Hence the controversy that arose following this incident: who is the legitimate Venezuelan president after all?
According to Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, from a practical and formal point of view, the current Venezuelan institutions are the only ones with which Portugal can dialogue, in particular to resolve the dispute with the Portuguese airline TAP.
On a purely political level, Juan Guaidó is recognized as the self-proclaimed interim president and the president of the National Assembly.
There are nearly a million Portuguese descendants who reside in Venezuela
In addition to the operational cost which means for TAP the suspension of flights to Caracas, there is a political cost which the Portuguese government is trying to resolve, in particular because there are nearly a million Portuguese descendants living in the Venezuela.
TAP airline routes passengers from Caracas to other airlines.
Hours after arriving in Caracas, Juan Guaido Juan José Márquez's uncle, who had traveled with him on the same flight, disappeared after being intercepted by customs officials.
He was arrested on arrival in Caracas due to the alleged transport of dangerous goods identified as "synthetic explosive C4". The president of the Constituent Assembly of this country, Diosdado Cabello, then criticized the Portuguese airline and the Portuguese ambassador to Caracas.
