Venezuela expels EU Ambassador

Venezuela's government on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of the head of the European Union delegation in the South American nation following the bloc's decision to impose sanctions on several Venezuelan officials accused of undermining democracy or violating human rights.

Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa was given 72 hours to leave the troubled country.

"We would not have wanted to do this," said Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president. "But we cannot accept that anyone comes to offend Venezuela."

The move from the Venezuelan government came two days after the European Union's foreign ministers sanctioned 19 Venezuelan officials, freezing their assets and banning them from traveling to the bloc, citing the deteriorating situation Venezuela faces after the December 2020 elections.

The main opposition parties boycotted those elections.

So far, 55 Venezuelan officials have been sanctioned by the European Union.

It is the second time in almost eight months that Brilhante Pedrosa has been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave Venezuela.

The measures both times have been related to the sanctions imposed by the European bloc against officials and allies of Maduro.