France's Macron Meets with Venezuela Opposition Figures

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has met with senior figures of Venezuela’s opposition on a self-styled “European tour” to rally international pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

Julio Borges, the president of Venezuela’s parliament, its vice-president Freddy Guevara and leading opposition activist Roberto Patiño arrived at the Elysee Palace Monday. Lilian Tintori, a prominent opposition activist and wife of prominent political prisoner Leopoldo López, was not present even though she was meant to attend.

Inflation in Venezuela has now surpassed 700%. pic.twitter.com/ZRfoeR5pGN

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 4, 2017

Tintori said her passport had been confiscated and that she was barred from leaving Venezuela.

Macron recently described Maduro’s leadership a “dictatorship.”

Borges tweeted over the weekend that he will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in the coming days.