Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste's announcement that the Government recognised Juan Guaidó as President of Venezuela is an attempt to legitimise a coup. He says he came to this position on an incremental basis but, unfortunately, coups happen in South America with an incremental approach. That has been the history in the region. One could point to other countries where one could say a coup is happening. The Tánaiste said he has a difficulty with the election. The election in May 2018 did not have to happen. It was based on a call from the opposition parties in Venezuela for an election. The election went ahead and many parties decided not to participate. Guaidó did not put himself forward in that election. President Maduro won it and he is the legitimate president. Certainly, there are difficulties in that country but Ireland releasing this statement, particularly before the Tánaiste goes to Washington and meets President Trump and under pressure from the European members of NATO, is a worrying development in Irish foreign policy. Instead of a damaging recognition of an undemocratic coup the Tánaiste should have declared that Ireland will support the efforts of Mexico and Uruguay to find a peaceful political solution. What will the Tánaiste do now? Is he supporting that process? If he is, why are his officials not involved in supporting that initiative?

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