The Maltese government joined the European parliament in recognising Venezuelan Opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the rightful president of the country.

All Western governments on Monday recognised Mr Guaidó as interim leader, after President Nicolas Maduro rejected an ultimatum to call early voting, following an election last year that is widely seen to have been rigged.

After a Cabinet meeting, the Maltese government said in a statement it supported a European Union declaration issued last month urging Mr Maduro to take the necessary legal steps for democratic presidential elections.

After noting Mr Maduro failed to take the necessary steps, the Maltese government said it joined other member states in acknowledging Mr Guaidó as President ad interim of Venezuela.

The decision jars with what Labour MEP Alfred Sant had earlier said in a statement. Dr Sant abstained on the European Parliament resolution, insisting the European Parliament held no legal standing to recognise the status of governments.

"It is meaningless for this parliament to express definitive judgements on a situation as complex as in that country," the former prime minister insisted.

The Nationalist party had also expressed its support for Mr Guiadó in a statement last week, condemning the "dictatorship" of Mr Maduro.

Mr Maduro’s leadership brought about corruption, poverty and division, the party said.

Around two million Venezuelans had sought refuge in nearby countries because of Mr Maduro’s leadership, the Opposition had noted.