Argentina, Brazil Regard Venezuelan Parliament As Country's Only Legitimate Body - Macri

BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2019) The presidents of Argentina and Brazil have reaffirmed their stance that Venezuela' opposition parliament is the only legitimate body in the country, Argentine President Mauricio Macri said Wednesday.

"We have confirmed our condemnation of [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro dictatorship, this makes a mockery of democracy ... In fact, he is an executioner. Maduro is a dictator who came to power as a result of fictitious elections and led the country to a hopeless situation, situation of agony... We once again confirmed that the National Assembly is the only legitimate institution in Venezuela that was chosen in a democratic way by the people of Venezuela," Macri said after the meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro.

Last week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took the oath of office to begin his second presidential term, which will last until 2025. The Organization of American States, members of the Lima Group � except Mexico � and the United States refused to recognize Maduro's new term.

On Tuesday, the Venezuelan National Assembly adopted a statement declaring country's president an usurper. The lawmakers also declared all the decisions made by the president and the executive bodies null and void. The parliament also called on the international community to freeze Venezuelan accounts abroad.