Venezuela: Canada govt backs Juan Guaido but its biggest labour union supports Maduro

Ottawa, Feb 10: Canada stands a divided country over the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela. While the country's government has recognised leader of Venezuela's National Assembly Juan Guaido as its president, the North American country's biggest union has chosen to back the sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, who has come under increasing international pressure to step down in the wake of a devastating economic crisis.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) published on its website a statement that has criticised Ottawa's support for Guaido who announced himself as the interim president of Venezuela on January 23, less than two weeks after Maduro took his second oath as the president.

"..they (Justin Trudeau government) have chosen to side with a self-declared leader over President Nicolás Maduro, who was duly elected by the people of Venezuela. They have also chosen to side with Donald Trump and US foreign policy," said the CUPE statement.

The labour body also said it rejected any attempt by Ottawa to "interfere with the democratic processes and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people".

"Given the history of US involvement in the region, the actions of Guaidó have all the signs of a coup d'Etat. We warn Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against playing any role in bringing about regime change in another country," it added.

"CUPE believes Canada has an important role to play in the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, by providing humanitarian support. We also believe Canada should engage with the international community to foster dialogue and peace between the elected government and the opposition."

Maduro won his second presidential election last May though it was widely condemned by the Opposition led by Guaido and a number of countries like the US, Canada and the European Union.

Maduro won a second term as president on January 10th, although the election process was widely condemned by the opposition under Guaido, and by several foreign countries like the U.S., Canada, and the European Union.