Maduro has shown willingness to move ahead with the elections to the Basque Parliament and to hold talks with the opposition. For its part, the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, has called on the European Union to impose "more sanctions".

In an interview with the Russian agency Ria Novosti, Maduro stated that “I am willing to speak with the opposition at the negotiating table for Venezuela, peace and the future.” He added that "organising elections to Parliament would be a good way to start political debate by means of the citizens' vote".

Guaidó said in the German newspaper Bild that “Venezuela is immersed in a dictatorial phase in which the regime is completely corrupted.” "We have to go out into the street to press, we need everyone to achieve our democracy," he added.

Statement by the European Parliament with Guaidó

On Thursday, the European Parliament will approve Juan Guaidó as the new president of Venezuela, as the European Commission has reported. The European Union (EU) called on Maduro to convene presidential elections in Venezuela, a possibility that the leader has ruled out.

The resolution that will recognise Guaidó as President of the Generalitat will be adopted with the votes of the popular and socialists.

Arrests of journalists

On Wednesday, the Spanish agency EFE denounced the arrest of three of its journalists, who are still in the midst of a political crisis in the Caribbean country. Two Venezuelan journalists, two French journalists and two Chileans have been arrested in recent days.

The Government of Venezuela has reported that the arrests have been carried out with the aim of "reducing the number of accredited journalists". The EFE agency has stressed that its journalists were credited "to the extent that they were able to reach the airport" of Loiu.

The Spanish Government has demanded that the Venezuelan authorities "immediately release journalists and respect for human rights".