Argentine diplomatic delegation was expelled after the presidential elections / Photo: Reference
The Argentine diplomats expelled from Venezuela by the government of Nicolás Maduro for their stance on Sunday’s presidential elections arrived in Lisbon on Friday, where they are in transit at the airport, on their return trip to Buenos Aires, a diplomatic source told EFE.
The Portuguese airline TAP plane from Caracas with the diplomats and their families arrived in Lisbon at 6:19 am after a brief stopover in Funchal, the capital of Madeira.
They are currently at Terminal 1 of Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport waiting to leave “in a couple of hours” for their next stopover, Madrid, where they will change planes again to leave today for Buenos Aires, the source said.
Four flights are scheduled to depart from Lisbon this morning to Madrid.
Yesterday, Thursday, Brazil took over custody of the Argentine delegation in Venezuela and, therefore, of the six opponents of the Maduro government who have been in the embassy since March, a situation that has generated strong controversy both in Venezuela and in the region.
The diplomatic headquarters, according to Argentine authorities, has been under siege by Venezuelan security forces, who have surrounded the building and restricted access to basic supplies and external support.
The Argentine government has not recognised the results of last Sunday’s elections and has denounced fraud, which is why Maduro has demanded that his representatives in Venezuela leave the country.
It has also expelled diplomats from Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
Relations between Argentina and Venezuela – which were close during the mandates of Peronists Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007), Cristina Fernández (2007-2015) and Alberto Fernández (2019-2023) – have worsened since Javier Milei, who has had serious disagreements with Maduro, arrived at the Casa Rosada last December.
Lisbon / EFE
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2024-08-05 19:43:57
