CARACAS: Officials in Venezuela took the first step on
Saturday towards expelling top diplomats from Brazil and Canada who have
been accused of meddling in the country’s politics.
National
constituent assembly president Delcy Rodriguez declared both Brazil’s
ambassador and Canada’s charge d’affaires as persona non grata, a move
which does away with their diplomatic credentials.
Officials
from both countries and the United States have been increasing critical
of President Nicolas Maduro’s government for consolidating power and
isolating the country’s opposition parties ahead of next year’s
presidential elections. Brazil said in a tweet from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs that it intends to respond with equal force. The
government had not yet received official notification from Venezuela.
“If
confirmed, this decision demonstrates, once again, the authoritarian
nature of the Nicolas Maduro administration and its lack of willingness
to engage in any type of dialogue,” Brazilian officials said.
