Brasília

Jair Bolsonaro's government told the regime of Venezuela's dictator, Nicolás Maduro, that all Chavista diplomats in Brazil must leave the country.

It is the main diplomatic gesture against Maduro since Bolsonaro recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as president in charge of the country at the beginning of last year.

The warning given by the Brazilian chancellery to Caracas is that Chavista diplomats will be expelled if they do not leave the country within a time limit - it is unknown how long.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a news conference in Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba - REUTERS

Interlocutors reported to Folha that there are now 17 employees of the Chavista regime in Brazil. In addition to the embassy in Brasília, Venezuela maintains consulates in Manaus, Boa Vista, Belém, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

To make the Chavistas' departure feasible, the government issued ordinances on Thursday (5) determining the return of Brazilian officials who now serve in Venezuela.

The order affects both diplomats and chancellery officials who work at the embassy in Caracas and at consulates elsewhere. No Brazilian foreign service server will remain in the neighboring country.

According to the ordinances, four diplomats must return to Brazil. In addition to them, 11 other Brazilian employees also received removal orders.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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