Get out! EU ambassador given 72 hours to leave Venezuela by furious leader Steven Brown
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Ms Brilhante was handed a declaration of persona non grata by the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza on February 24. The EU ambassador was given 72 hours to leave the country in response to a new round of EU sanctions.
This comes after the EU foreign ministers agreed to sanction 19 Venezuelan officials, bringing the overall total to 55.
Mr Arreaza said: Today, by decision of President Nicolas Maduro, we have personally delivered to Mrs Isabel Brilhante a declaration of persona non grata. She was given 72 hours to leave Venezuelan territory.
Nicolas Maduro profile (Image: Express)
The news of Ms Brilhante s expulsion has been criticised by MEPs with one tweeting interrupting dialogue is never the solution .
Pierre Karleskind, MEP for France, tweeted: I regret the expulsion of Ambassador Brilhante Pedrosa. Interrupting dialogue is never the solution!
This is not the first time tensions between Venezuela and the EU have escalated.
European Council President Charles Michel (Image: PA)
Following a round of sanctions from the EU back in July last year, President Maduro already issued a 72-hour warning to Ms Brilhante.
When the deadline expired, the government reversed its decision, while asking the EU for gestures in return.
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MARACAIBO: Venezuela on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) expelled the European Union’s ambassador to Caracas in response to new sanctions, giving the Portuguese envoy 72 hours to leave the country and raising the bloc’s renewed ire. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza announced the move against ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa two days after EU foreign ministers agreed to […]