Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez recognizes Juan Guaido as Venezuela interim president

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday recognised Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela, adding that the Latin American country now needed free and fair elections as soon as possible.

"I recognise the president of Venezuela's assembly, Mr Juan Guaido, as president in charge of Venezuela," Sanchez said in a televised statement. This echoed the words of other Western countries like France, after an eight-day deadline they set on Jan. 26 for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to call elections has not been met.